Oklahoma starting RB Kennedy Brooks opts-out of playing 2020 season, per report

For the first time prior to the 2020 season, Oklahoma has its first player who has chosen to opt-out and it’s a big loss.

For the first time prior to the 2020 season, Oklahoma has its first player who has chosen to opt-out.

College football programs like Syracuse, Vanderbilt and others are seeing a rash of players opt-out of playing the college football season due to concerns about COVID-19 or preparing for the 2021 NFL draft. The Sooners have not had a single player or a rumor of a single player opt out.

Until Sunday.

According to a report from Jason Kersey of the Athletic, star Oklahoma running back Kennedy Brooks.

Brooks has been a key figure of Oklahoma’s offense for the last two years. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in each season and was on pace to be one of the best statistical running backs in Sooners’ history. Brooks’ 7.5 yards per carry at Oklahoma is good for a tie at No. 1 (Greg Pruitt) of running backs with at least 200 carries.

He came to Oklahoma in the 2017 recruiting class as a four-star running back from Mansfield, Texas.

The Sooners nor Lincoln Riley have made an announcement on Brooks’ opting out. Here is what the University of Oklahoma said in regards to players opting-out on June 26:

If at any time during the 2020-21 season a student-athlete feels uncomfortable returning or continuing any activities due to COVID-19, they may withdraw themselves without negative impact regarding their standing with the team or athletics department financial aid.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]