As this most unpredictable of football seasons approaches, many players at both the college and professional levels have opted out. In the NFL, an opt out is a final decision that can’t be changed. In college that’s not the case, and one top player has opted back in.
Vanderbilt linebacker Dimitri Moore, a junior who is a prospect for the 2021 NFL draft, announced today that he has decided to play this season after previously saying he wouldn’t.
“After my grandfather’s passing from COVID-19, I made a decision to opt out of the upcoming football season,” Moore wrote, via the Tennessean. “Since then, I have done more research and had many conversations with doctors and medical personnel. I look forward to returning to the program and playing this season, and I have made this decision on my own. As a team, we are responsible for our actions and hold each other accountable within our environment. I have trust and confidence in Vanderbilt’s testing abilities and safety protocols.”
Vanderbilt plays in the SEC, which is continuing to say its teams will play a full conference schedule. The Big 12 and ACC are also planning to play this season, while the Big Ten and Pac-12 have canceled their seasons.
