DB Dawson 1st Knight to opt out due to COVID-19
UCF defensive back Devunte Dawson became the first Knight to opt out of playing the upcoming football season due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.
“I will be opting out of this season due to COVID-19 #GodsPlan,” Dawson posted on his Instagram page Thursday night.
247Sports.com’s Jason Beede was the first to report the move.
The redshirt junior joined the UCF program as part of the 2019 recruiting class after spending time at Coffeyville Community College in Kansas. The three-star prospect out of Hurst, Texas, spent the past two seasons with the Red Ravens, amassing 69 tackles and two interceptions.
The American Athletic Conference said it will honor the scholarships of any athletes who choose to sit out the fall semester.
“We are fully committed to the academic and athletic pursuits of our student-athletes,” AAC commissioner Mike Aresco said. “We understand that student-athletes may feel uncertainty about competing and taking part in athletic activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that they and their families know that their scholarships will be honored during these unprecedented times should they elect not to compete.”
UCF athletics director Danny White told reporters last week the school will honor scholarships for players who choose to sit out.
“We’re not forcing any student-athlete into doing something they’re uncomfortable with,” White said. “We’re trying to support them. The vast majority if not all of them want to play. They’re passionate about their sport. They want to play the season. We’re getting to a place where if an individual is uncomfortable, that’s their choice.”
The AAC reaffirmed its plans this week to move forward with football in the fall, but the league will work closely with its medical advisory group and continue to gather information about the pandemic.
“We’ve decided it would be premature to make any kind of decision at this point on such an important matter,” Aresco told the Orlando Sentinel late Tuesday night after the Big Ten and Pac-12 announced they were postponing the fall football season until spring.
Officials from the ACC, SEC and Big 12 said the leagues were continuing their efforts to play football this fall.
More than 40 college football players have announced they will opt out of playing the 2020 season.