A second high-profile Oregon Duck will not play this season. Despite the Pac-12 agreeing to play an abbreviated season beginning in November, safety Jevon Holland announced he will opt out of his junior season (Twitter link).
Holland, who ranks 20th on Todd McShay’s big board of draft-eligible 2021 prospects, joins acclaimed Oregon tackle Penei Sewell in opting out. Several high-end prospects have opted out of this COVID-19-altered season, and although some moved to return to their respective schools, others remain set to steer clear this unusual season and preparing for the ’21 draft.
Holland intercepted nine passes as a Ducks underclassman and ended his sophomore season as a first-team All-Pac-12 performer. He also worked as Oregon’s primary punt returner last season. ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Holland as his No. 16 overall prospect for 2021.
The Pac-12 plans to begin its 2020 season Nov. 6. The conference will play a seven-game season that will wrap up Dec. 18.
It’ll be interesting to hear the questions, at the combine, asked by the NFL teams of the players that opted out.
Why would they care? If they don’t want to draft an ‘opt out’ I’m sure that most of the league would draft them.
We’ve heard teams ask about commitment to players that opted out of bowl games. So opting out of a season? I’m sure their commitment will be gauged to some degree. Not saying it’s right or smart to ask; but that won’t be discarded by someone.
The combine is a travesty of a mockery of a sham. Just another “let’s put some money in our pockets” scam the owners created to amuse themselves.
You’ve just defined all professional team sports and attributed it to the combine only.
Crosseyedlemon sounds like you are also a big fan of participation trophies, socialism and pizza bites made by mommy. Joe Biden sounds like a personal hero of yours. Don’t worry we won’t take away that 9th place trophy from 5th grade field day away from you even though only 7 kids participated in it that day
Like when you took third place in the Belching Out Angry Cliches to Strawmen Award?
Kids wants to keep himself healthy to make himself millions instead of making it for some college.
Why on Earth would he do otherwise?
The combine is a pointless and farcical circus act. Any meaningful scouting and assessment of athletes can only occur by observing them under actual game conditions. If the combine had any actual value we would be seeing GMs having a very high success rate with their first and second round picks but the reality is that these players underachieve just as much now as they did before the combine was created.