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Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley opted out of the 2020 college football season on Wednesday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley, a projected first-round pick, is the first college player to opt out of the coming season, a source tells ESPN. Farley will spend the year training for the NFL draft. He has seen NFL players opt out and is uncomfortable with playing this year.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 29, 2020
Farley is the first college player to opt out. Several NFL players have already decided to sit out the 2020 season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Schefter broke the news, Farley released a video to ESPN, which Schefter posted.
Here is former Virginia Tech CB Caleb Farley’a announcement that he is opting out of the college football season to train and turn pro, sent to ESPN: pic.twitter.com/5j4FmQvGKy
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 29, 2020
Farley cited COVID-19 as the reason he is forgoing his final season and will begin preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft. It’s important to note Farley lost his mother to cancer in Jan. 2018 and that also played a factor in his decision.
Farley is a projected first-round pick in 2021 and could become the first of many college players to sit out this season and prepare for the NFL Draft. If there is a season, of course.
Farley was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2019 and one of the top players in all of college football entering 2020.
He finished his Virginia Tech career with 56 tackles and six interceptions in 24 career games.
Best of luck, Caleb.