SEC College Football Players Opting Out of the 2020 Season
Posted by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @RyanWrightRNG
The 2020 college football season in the SEC kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 26, with a slate of seven games. The Week 1 start date was delayed from Sept. 5, due to COVID-19 concerns, but the loyal fanbases eagerly await the action none the less. As teams ramp up for the season ahead, some players have opted out of the upcoming schedule either for a redshirt season or to explore options with the NFL Draft. The actions could have a major impact for some hopeful SEC programs.
Nine teams experienced opt-outs, six in the SEC West. How hard one team or the other was hit with the decisions may depend on the individual fanbase. LSU lost three more starters from last year’s championship winning squad while Texas A&M lost two key starters from a team wanting to be a dark horse contender in the West. Nationwide, expectations may not be high in Nashville but that does not lessen the blow of four starters sitting out the 2020 schedule. Vanderbilt did catch a reprieve with offensive lineman Dimitri Moore opting to return to the team.
SEC Week 1 Schedule
No. 23 Kentucky at No. 8 Auburn
No. 4 Georgia at Arkansas
Vanderbilt at No. 10 Texas A&M
No. 5 Florida at Ole Miss
No. 2 Alabama at Missouri
Mississippi State at No. 6 LSU
No. 16 Tennessee at South Carolina
Updated 2020 SEC Opt-Out List
SEC West
Arkansas
WR Shamar Nash
OL Chibueze Nwanna
Auburn
DB Traivon Leonard
LB Josh Marsh
LB Chandler Wooten
LSU
WR Ja’Marr Chase – led FBS in receiving yards (1,780) and receiving touchdowns (20) and won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the country’s best receiver
DL Neil Farrell – projected starter after a 46-tackle 2019 season *Now listed on the depth chart
DL Nelson Jenkins – *Now listed on the depth chart
DL Tyler Shelvin – opted out for NFL Draft, preseason All-American
DB Kary Vincent – starter and All-SEC candidate, opted out for NFL Draft
Mississippi State
DB Taury Dixon
DB Javorrius Selmon
CB Tyler Williams – projected starter in 2020
Ole Miss
C Eli Johnson – returning senior starter
WR OrTre Smith
Texas A&M
WR Jhamon Ausbon – No. 1 WR for the Aggies, opted out for NFL Draft
DB Elijah Blades
QB James Foster – key backup
DB Derrick Tucker
LB Anthony Hines – team’s second leading tackler in 2019
SEC East
Georgia
QB Jamie Newman – preseason projected starter for the Bulldogs
South Carolina
WR Randrecous Davis
OL Mark Fox
OL Jordan Rhodes – opted back in on Thursday, Sept. 3
Vanderbilt
OL Bryce Bailey – returning starter
OL Cole Clemens – returning starter
K Oren Milstein
LB Dimitri Moore – (Opted back in on Tuesday, Aug. 25)
OL Stephen Spanellis – transfer from Michigan, expected starter
OL Jonathan Stewart – returning starter
Photo credit: Pro Football Network; No. 1 Ja’Marr Chase