University of Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman opts-out for 2020

Another potential first-round pick passes on the college season, as Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman is entering the NFL Draft and opting-out.

Last week Caleb Farley became the first top-flight college football player to opt-out of the 2020 college football season due to concerns over COVID-19. Farley, a defensive back from Virginia Te ch viewed as a first-rounder, decided to forgo the season in order to keep his family safe after losing his mother to breast cancer in 2018.

This week, another potential first-round pick joined Farley: Minnesota wide receiver Rashod Bateman. The talented wideout announced his decision in a video posted to social media:

In the video, Bateman mentions that he needs to keep his family and community safe “in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The WR states that he will be taking the next steps in his journey and will declare for the 2021 NFL Draft.

His coach, P.J. Fleck, took to social media to support his player:

As for the 2021 NFL Draft, if you thought last year’s draft class was loaded at the wide receiver position, the next group might be even better, with Bateman part of the reason why. Trevor Sikkema, who covers the NFL Draft year-round for The Draft Network, framed Bateman’s decision this way:

In his article ranking the wide receivers, TDN’s Jordan Reid had Bateman third after Ja’Marr Chase from LSU and DeVonta Smith from Alabama. Reid had this to say about Bateman’s potential:

From the start and through the catch process, Bateman’s routes are full throttle. He’s sufficient with keeping the proper amounts of body lean, pad level, and speed. He’s able to consistently gain separation as a result. No matter the depth or yardage of routes, he’s able to disguise each pattern by looking the same. Defensive backs can be puzzled and left guessing the location of his routes because of how similar each pattern looks. Possessing fast feet, plenty of body twitch, and natural acceleration, Bateman is able to manipulate the desired direction of where he wants matchups to end up. Often using quick jab steps and over-exaggerating arm and head motions help him sell his routes even more than intended. His sudden routes and right now acceleration during route stems put defenders in danger as soon as he starts his forward moving process.

Bateman is savvy with getting defenders to expand or shrink their technique off the line in order to allow himself more operating room depending on designed route areas. His violent jab steps and wide inside/outside steps within five yards of initial starting points give throwers more room for throwing windows. He is an all-hands catcher that quickly snags the ball out of the air cleanly. He’s then able to quickly transition into his after the catch process soon thereafter. Bateman consistently demonstrates the usefulness of his hands on all three areas of the field, but they are at their best when operating over the middle of the field. Quick slants were often ran and his ability to catch it cleanly and instantly shift into a yards after the catch threat was constant.

Bateman certainly has the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2021, NFL Draft, and while a tremendous final college season could have propelled him to the top of the WR board, the young wide receiver is thinking beyond himself with this decision.