Trevor Lawrence seems like he’s not opting out with Clemson in 2020

Trevor Lawrence appears ready to play for Clemson in the 2020 college season.

Trevor Lawrence is the crown jewel of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Clemson quarterback appears to be a generational talent at the position, checking every box from a tools perspective while also having lost only one game in his college career. But the question as concerns about the 2020 college football season in the time of COVID-19 is whether or not he’ll play this season or decide to opt-out.

Among many other players throughout college football, four likely first-round picks in the 2021 NFL Draft — Virginia Tech’s Caleb Farley, Minnesota’s Rashod Bateman, Penn State’s Micah Parsons, Miami’s Gregory Rousseau — have already opted out for the 2020 season to prepare for the draft. They have the luxury of doing so, in some ways, as their draft stock is secure.

For Trevor Lawrence, though, no one’s stock may be as secure as his. From the moment he came out of high school as a 5-star prospect, he was pegged as a future No. 1 pick. So if he were concerned about the coronavirus and the protocols set forth by Clemson, the ACC and the NCAA, he could opt-out and still be the No. 1 pick.

That doesn’t appear to be the case, though. On Thursday, the quarterback posted this simple post to Instagram with a seemingly clear message.

“Go time.” and “A lot left to prove.” send a pretty clear message by my estimation: Trevor Lawrence is ready to play the 2020 college season with the Clemson Tigers and will be taking the field with a chip on his shoulder.

The No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft awaits for Trevor Lawrence.

Prior to the National Championship Game loss to LSU last year, the worst game of Lawrence’s career on film, the Clemson quarterback had not tasted defeat at the college level. And for a top-tier leader and competitor, it only makes sense that he would look at the 2020 season as an opportunity for, like the hashtag says, redemption.

The fact that he apparently wants to play this year and not opt-out is a testament to that fire within him and his belief in his team. That isn’t to say that players who are opting out don’t possess that competitive gene; their decisions are highly respectable and deserve no ill will from fans or otherwise.

If Lawrence is able to redeem himself with another run at a title with Clemson this season, though, he’ll not only further secure his future as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft but he’ll also become a bonafide college football legend in the process.

We may have to wait and see if this Instagram post is an official word on whether or not Trevor Lawrence will suit up for Clemson in the 2020 college football season. But given the message it contains along with everything else the quarterback has says, the safe bet is that he won’t be among the top 2021 draft prospects opting out.