Pitt loses star
Standout defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman opts out of season.
Pitt defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman — who spurned the 2020 NFL draft seven months ago in favor of another college season — decided Saturday to opt out of the 2020 season.
Twyman, a 2019 secondteam All-American, announced the news via Twitter.
He becomes the latest high-profile draft prospect to do so in the past week, joining the likes of Penn State’s Micah Parsons and Miami’s Gregory Rousseau.
Twyman thanked Pat Narduzzi, Pitt defensive line coach Charlie Partridge and Panthers fans. He also explained in two sentences why he’s leaving.
“This isn’t about COVID-19,” Twyman wrote. “This is about my family’s needs, now and in the future.”
A first-team All-ACC pick, Twyman created chaos and logged 10.5 sacks in his first season as a starter.
Unlike Parsons or Rousseau or Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley, Twyman is not a lock to be selected in the first 32 picks in April 2021. That’s a part of the reason why he came back to Pitt, to improve on his second-round or thirdround grade.
In another move which also affected Pitt, the MidAmerican Conference became the first Football Bowl Subdivision league to cancel its fall season due to COVID-19.
Pitt was scheduled to play host Sept. 12 to Miami of Ohio. It was supposed to be the Panthers’ lone nonconference game.
The conference’s move also eliminates a game for Robert Morris University. The Colonials also were slated to play Sept. 12, at Bowling Green.
Colorado State
Several players released a shared statement on social media to support head coach Steve Addazio and dispute accusations against the program. The Rams have paused all activities after a recent investigation started by the university president into the program’s handling of COVID-19 cases uncovered serious allegations of racism and verbal abuse toward athletes.
Elsewhere
The Pac-12 Conference players of “WeAreUnited” movement said they were “disappointed and deeply concerned” after a recent meeting with commissioner Larry Scott. The players sent an email to Scott late Friday accusing him of not taking the issues they have raised seriously enough. The group is pushing the conference to address their concerns about COVID-19 protocols, racial injustice in college sports and economic rights for college athletes. Players threatened opting out of practices and games if their demands aren’t addressed . ... The Big Ten Conference announced it will not progress to padded practices. The league said it wants to evaluate safety before progressing to fullcontact practices. “As we have consistently stated, we will continue to evaluate daily, while relying on our medical experts, to make the best decisions possible for the health, safety and wellness of our student-athletes.”