Lawrence leaving all options on table
The plan all along has been for Trevor Lawrence to play three years at Clemson before leaving for the NFL, but is it a guarantee that this will be his final year with the Tigers?
There has been speculation in recent weeks that Lawrence should not play for the Jets if New York ends up with the No. 1 overall pick for the 2021 NFL draft.
A story from Sports Illustrated suggested that Lawrence should “pull an Eli Manning” and “steer himself away from the Jets.” Manning told the Chargers in 2004 that he did not want to play for them, leading to a blockbuster trade that ended with Philip Rivers in San Diego and Manning with the New York Giants.
Former Falcons star Roddy White, speaking in a recent interview, went as far as to say that Lawrence should “just go back to Clemson” if the Jets have the top pick.
“If the Jets get the first pick, don’t go. Just stay.
Just stay one more year in college and enjoy your time … because it would be awful to get drafted by the Jets,” White said.
Lawrence, a junior, was asked Tuesday if there was anything that might make him reconsider returning to school. He didn’t close the door on playing one more season at Clemson.
“I don’t know. I mean, we’ll just have to see how things unfold. I think there’s a lot of factors in that,” Lawrence told reporters. “Honestly [I’m] just playing this year, putting everything I have into it. Not really focusing on next year, whether I leave or stay or whatever. Obviously I have the option to do either one.”
UF HAS 6 NEW CASES
The University of Florida reported six new positive COVID-19 cases among the Gators football team as
Dan Mullen’s squad looks to move past a recent outbreak that stalled its season. The data is based on test results from Tuesday of last week through Monday, during which the school said 230 tests were performed.
Elsewhere in the athletics department, UF reported six athletes in a sport other than football tested positive for COVID-19.
The No. 10 Gators (2-1) returned to the practice field Monday following a two-week layoff following the outbreak to begin preparations for Saturday’s night game against Missouri (2-2) in the Swamp.
Mullen declined to offer exact numbers, but he said Monday the Gators would have at least the SEC minimum of 53 scholarship players available after having to postpone two games due to a lack of available athletes.
More than two dozen players and a handful of coaches, including Mullen, tested positive for COVID-19 during the 10-day period following the Gators’ narrow loss Oct. 10 at Texas A&M.
Southern Mississippi: Interim coach Scotty Walden is leaving the school, effective immediately, to become the head coach at Austin Peay. Walden’s departure means Southern Miss will be on its third head coach of the season. He was promoted from offensive coordinator just days after Jay Hopson resigned following a season-opening loss to South Alabama.