List of Big Ten players who opted out of (and back in to) the 2020 college football season

Zac Al-Khateeb

List of Big Ten players who opted out of (and back in to) the 2020 college football season image

The Big Ten returns to football this week, providing fans a much-needed reunion with their favorite teams, coaches and players.

That said, the conference has seen an influx of players (such as Michigan quarterback Dylan McCaffrey) who have opted out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. That includes a handful of players — such as Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons — who have already declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. Add to that the players who reversed their initial opt-out decisions, such as Purdue receiver Rondale Moore, and it can be a confusing situation to track.

Below is a list of Big Ten football players who have opted out of — and then back in to — the 2020 college football season:

MORE: Big Ten Week 8 football schedule

Big Ten Players who opted out

Players listed in alphabetical order by school
*Indicates players who have declared for 2021 NFL Draft

NamePositionClassSchool
Ra'Von BonnerRBSr.Illinois
Dawson DegrootLBSr.Illinois
Djimon ColbertLBJr.Iowa
Taajhir McCallDLR-Fr.Iowa
Jalen AlexanderDLSo.Maryland
Vincent FlytheDBSo.Maryland
Josh JacksonQBSr.Maryland
TJ KautaiLBJr.Maryland
Dylan McCaffreyQBJr.Michigan
Ambry Thomas*CBSr.Michigan
Nico Collins*WRSr.Michigan
Camaron CheesemanLSSr.Michigan
Jordan ReidOTSr.Michigan State
Justin StevensOTFr.Michigan State
Demetrius DouglasWRR-So.Minnesota
Rashawn Slater*OLSr.Northwestern
Samdup MillerDESr.Northwestern
Aidan SmithQBSr.Northwestern
Travis WhillockSSr.Northwestern
Jason WhittakerTEJr.Northwestern
Micah Parsons*LBJr.Penn State
Everett WormleyWRSr.Rutgers
Mike LonsdorfOLR-Sr.Rutgers
Matt ThomasDLR-So.Rutgers

Big Ten players who opted back in

NamePositionClassSchool
Austin FontaineOLSo.Maryland
Johnny JordanOLSr.Maryland
Christian TurnerRBJr.Michigan
Jalen MayfieldOTJr.Michigan
Jacub PanasiukLBSr.Michigan State
Marcel LewisDEFr.Michigan State
Rashod BatemanWRJr.Minnesota
Shaun WadeCBR-Jr.Ohio State
Wyatt DavisOLJr.Ohio State
Rondale MooreWRSo.Purdue

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.