Michigan football has first player opt-out due to COVID-19 concerns
Michigan Wolverines running back Christian Turner became the team’s first player to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns.
Michigan football’s Christian Turner announced his plans to opt out of the 2020 NCAA season due to COVID-19 concerns via Twitter on Tuesday, becoming the program’s first player to do so. While Turner’s decision hurts the Wolverines’ backfield depth, the announcement may not matter much with the Big Ten reportedly planning to cancel its season.
Per USA Today‘s Isaiah Hole, Michigan’s coaching staff was excited to see Turner take on a larger role as a junior in 2020 after he battled through injuries last season. Running backs coach Jay Harbaugh praised the third-year back, saying that the staff loves “everything he’s about” and singling him out as a player who has “done a great job of getting ready.”
While Turner’s opt-out is ultimately rendered insignificant by the Big Ten’s decision to cancel fall football, he clearly is not comfortable with the risk of contracting COVID-19 and felt the need to make the difficult decision to sit out.
Fans in the replies were supportive of his choice, expressing respect for his personal choice and wishing him the best as he takes a year away from football.
Michigan football fans supported his decision
The NCAA has said that it will allow players who opt-out to keep their scholarships but has not yet released guidelines on whether they will lose a year of eligibility. As Chris Hummer of 247Sports argues, the league should not penalize players like Turner for choosing to put their own health and safety above football.
Preserving Turner’s eligibility could help him fulfill his potential after battling injuries and a crowded depth chart, and a decision on the NCAA’s part not to do so would be inexplicable. Many other players opting out are assuredly in similar situations, and with more conferences canceling their seasons by the day, this would seem to be the responsible choice.
If the Big Ten somehow holds its season in the fall, Turner’s opt-out would leave Michigan with the hyper-talented quartet of Zach Charbonnet, Hassan Haskins, Chris Evans, and freshman Blake Corum. In other words, while Turner’s opt-out hurts, Jim Harbaugh still has a wealth of options in the backfield.
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