For better or worse, a lot is riding on college football happening this fall.
On one hand, universities rely heavily on football revenue to fund other athletics programs. On another, players and coaches are still focused on meeting the goals they had set long before the term “social distancing” was in anyone’s vocabulary.
Some players have been vocal about wanting to play in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, believing the season needs to happen for them to prepare for the next level. Although Kenan Memorial Stadium will likely be at reduced capacity this fall, a number of players know this might be their final opportunity to create game film for NFL scouts.
A notable example of a player using his senior season to improve his draft stock in recent years is former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, who tweeted his support for college athletes last week. Burrow tweeted that if the pandemic happened a year earlier, he “might be looking for a job right now.” On few draft boards before last season began, Burrow won the Heisman Trophy and National Championship, which helped his draft stock soar and made him the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
UNC senior cornerback Patrice Rene issued a similar statement on social media to declare how important this season could be for his future. After tearing his ACL at the beginning of last season, Rene could use 2020 to show what he can accomplish when he’s healthy.
In 2018, Rene started every game for UNC. With the Tar Heels ranked No. 19 going into the new season, he should have plenty of opportunities to perform under a national spotlight if the season occurs.
While Rene's season could put him on the map for NFL scouts, senior linebacker Chazz Surratt will look to bolster his already impressive draft resume. After making the transition from quarterback to linebacker, Surratt finished the year with 115 tackles and was named to the All-ACC First Team.
