The coronavirus pandemic has hit sports hard, and now it’s hitting a little closer to home for LSU football.
On Saturday, it was reported that Tigers defensive end Neil Farrell had decided to opt out of the 2020 college football season, saying that his family was hit hard by COVID-19.
He plans to rejoin the team in the next season. According to NCAA and SEC rules recently put into place, players have the option to sit out of the season for COVID-19 related reasons.
Now, over 30 Power 5 players have opted out of the upcoming season.
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News: Neil Farrell, a projected starting #LSU defensive end, has decided to opt out of the 2020 season, he tells @SINow.
His family was hit hard by COVID-19. He plans to return to the team next season, he says.
More than 30 Power 5 players have now opted out.
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 8, 2020
Farrell registered 46 tackles, seven tackles for a loss and three sacks as a junior in 2019. He was expected to expand upon his success this year, but instead, players like Jaquelin Roy, Jacobian Guillory, Glen Logan, Tyler Shelvin and Siaki “Apu” Ika will have the opportunity to step into larger roles.
It’s still quite the loss for LSU, but it will be interesting to see how dominant the Tigers can be moving back to a 4-3 defense under coordinator Bo Pelini, who enters his second stint in Baton Rouge.
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