Virginia Tech CB, Projected First Round Pick Caleb Farley Becomes First College Player to Opt Out of 2020 Season

With the calendar about to turn to August and the status of college football still up in the air, at least one high-profile Power Five player won't be taking part in the season even if it happens. Virginia Tech cornerback and projected first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft Caleb Farley announced Wednesday he will sit out the 2020 season and prepare for the Draft.

I wouldn't venture a guess on how many top juniors and seniors will choose to forego this season — should it happen — but my guess is Farley will not be the only one. What good could this season really do for guys like Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields? I'm sure those guys want to compete for a championship with their teammates, but sitting the season out for guys like that is protecting a multi-million dollar investment.

I don't believe the number of players who choose to sit out will have a massive impact on a potential fall season, but it does suck that we still don't know if we'll even be able to watch college football this year and there are players opting out. While Farley's decision may not impact the average college football fan, that's a huge blow for Virginia Tech fans. Now take that and multiply it across 15 or so programs which might have a star player sit out his would-be final season and that's no fun for anybody.

But this is just the way things are going to be for now. And while I know the power brokers in college football won't entertain a spring season until it is literally the only option left, my guess is nobody within shouting distance of the NFL Draft would play college football in the spring, which would be a huge gut punch to the sport.

I really hope this doesn't become a trend across the country, but for guys in the position to be millionaires in eight months, there are going to have to be decisions made.