Virginia Tech DB to skip 2020 season; many more players leaning that way

One of the first major dominoes of athletes opting out of the 2020 college football season has fallen.

Virginia Tech Hokies cornerback Caleb Farley announced he would be opting out of the season amid coronavirus concerns and preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft, where he is projected to be taken in the first round.

Farley played in 10 games for the Hokies last season in which he grabbed four interceptions and defended 12 passes. He did not play in Virginia Tech’s Belk Bowl loss to Kentucky due to injury, but he did have a two-interception game against Miami and a pick-six vs. Georgia Tech. He is likely the first of many big names that will opt out of the 2020 season, especially those expected to have their 2021 NFL Draft position solidified.

This decision also stems from the first flurry of NFL players deciding to opt-out of their season, including Kansas City Chiefs running back Damien Williams, New England Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower, and New York Giants offensive tackle Nate Solder.

While Farley is the first big name to opt-out of the college season, don’t expect him to be the last, as Yahoo’s Pete Thamel and ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg say many more players are leaning this way and will likely have announcements in the next few weeks.

The Kentucky Wildcats have several players who should be NFL Draft picks next year, so don’t be shocked if one or more of them opt to skip the upcoming season, if there is even one.