All ACC Sports Teams News

Here’s the complete (and ongoing) list of ACC football players that have chosen to opt out of the 2020 season due to safety concerns with COVID-19.

In total, players from nine different programs have chosen to opt out. North Carolina has seen five (*) players opt out, which is the most of any ACC program. So far, no players from star-studded Clemson, the toast of the conference, have opted out.

Virginia Tech’s star cornerback Caleb Farley, the ACC’s top defensive back, was the first to opt out because of the coronavirus; subsequently several other high-profile/NFL prospects in the league have follow, including Gregory Rousseau of Miami.

Duke

• • • Ben Wyatt, LS
      • Three-year starter on punts
      • 67 special teams snaps, per PFF
    • Jacob Rimmer, OT
    • Myles Hudzick, RB
    • Brandon Hill, LB

Florida State

• • • Jamarcus Chatman, DL
    • Dennis Briggs Jr., DL
      • 2019, redshirt freshman season: 28 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss

Miami

• • • Gregory Rousseau, DE
      • Led the ACC with 15.5 sacks — nearly 1.2 sacks per game. His sack total ranked second in the entire FBS, behind only Chase Young of Ohio State (1.4 per game)
      • He was named All-ACC First Team and awarded ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year
      • Will focus on the 2021 NFL Draft

North Carolina

• • • DJ Ford, DB
    • Bryce Watts, CB
    • Javon Terry, CB
    • Triston Miller, OL (*family reasons)
    • Billy Ross, OL

Pittsburgh

• • • Jaylen Twymen, DL
      • 2019: 10.5 sacks and 41 tackles
      • First team All-ACC in 2019
      • Will focus on the 2021 NFL Draft

Syracuse

• • • Cooper Dawson, DL
      • Head coach Dino Babers says more players could soon follow
    • Abdul Adams, RB
    • Jarveon Howard, RB
    • Tyrell Richards, LB

Virginia

• • • Mike Hollins, RB

Virginia Tech

• • • Caleb Farley, CB
      • 2019: Farley led the ACC in passes defended with 16 (1.45 per game), while tying for second in the league with four interceptions
      • Over the last two seasons, Farley was one of only six ACC players with 50 combined tackles and six interceptions

Wake Forest

• • • Sage Surratt, WR
      • 2019: 1,001 receiving yards, 66 receptions and 11 touchdowns, in only nine games