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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — As of this writing, we have no idea whether or not the rumors swirling about an Oct. 10 start to the Big Ten season will or will not come to fruition.
The Wolverines have already seen two players opt out as they prepare for their future careers in the NFL in Ambry Thomas and Jalen Mayfield, given that indications from the conference were that if it were to resume play, it wouldn’t be until January at the earliest. While it remains unclear at this juncture as to whether or not either would be able to return to the team with a league reversal, there are others in the same situation who are playing wait-and-see.
Among them is senior defensive end Kwity Paye, who recently has made waves in mock drafts, going as high as the first-round in 2021.
Paye isn’t in a rush to make his decision, instead opting to see what comes of these recent reports.
“I’m just waiting on what decision the Big Ten and the NCAA is gonna make, because we don’t know what’s going on yet,” Paye said. “I’d have to obviously go back and talk to my mom and see what would be the best choice for me and my family.
“But I’m not all too worried about making the big decision just yet just because I’m trying to enjoy my last couple months with the boys if these are my last couple months with them.”
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In the meantime, as he said Paye is spending his fall, regardless of a potential season return, soaking in perhaps his final moments with his teammates, practicing and preparing for Michigan’s planned combine at The Big House on Oct. 24.
It may just be something of a consolation prize, but considering it may be his final go-round at wearing maize and blue, Paye is taking it for all it’s worth.
And if the season is in fact restored, then Paye says he and the team will be ready to go.
“They’ve given us false hope before — they’ve given out the season and then they ended up canceling it,” Paye said. “I don’t know what kind of reassurance the team would need to start playing. We’re just gonna keep working though. We’ve been practicing, we haven’t really taken our foot off the pedal yet.”
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