Miami football players most impacted by Kirk Herbstreit cancellation prediction

During an interview on ESPN radio on Thursday, lead college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit predicted that there will not be an NFL or college football season in 2020. Several Miami football players would be impacted if Herbsteit’s projection proves true.

With football currently in its offseason, it is the only sport that has yet to lose games because of the Covid-19/coronavirus. During an interview on ESPN radio on Thursday night, lead college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit predicted that there will not be a 2020 football season. Several Miami football players would be impacted.

The 2020 Miami football season is setting up to be an exciting one with several additions to the roster and a turnover of most of the offensive coaching staff.  A lost season would impact several Hurricanes who are likely playing their last season of college football in 2020. A trio of graduate transfers signed with Miami for 2020.

Quarterback D’Eriq King and defensive end Quincy Roche are moving up a level of FBS football by transferring from the American Athletic Conference and Houston and Temple respectively to Miami. Kicker Jose Borreagales would be realizing his dream by joining the Miami football team after help defeating them at FIU in 2019.

Herbstreit commented that he would be shocked if there was a 2020 football season and went into a lengthy explanation why. With the season slightly more than five months away it is not likely the NCAA will make a determination soon about the 2020 college football season. Losing football would be devastating financially.

"“I’ll be shocked if we have NFL football this fall, if we have college football. I’ll be so surprised if that happens. Just because from what I understand, people that I listen to, you’re 12 to 18 months from a [coronavirus] vaccine.I don’t know how you let these guys go into locker rooms and let stadiums be filled up and how you can play ball. I just don’t know how you can do it with the optics of it. Next thing you know you got a locker room full of guys that are sick. And that’s on your watch? I wouldn’t want to have that.As much as I hate to say it, I think we’re scratching the surface of where this thing’s gonna go. You don’t all of the sudden come up with something in July or August and say, ‘Okay we’re good to go’ and turn ’em loose!”"

The NCAA lost close to $700 million with the cancelation of the NCAA Tournament. Losing football would impact the schools and conferences more individually. Most athletic departments are funded from the income that their football programs generate. The comments by Herbstreit were quoted by ESPN.

If the season winds up being canceled several other Miami football players would lose out. Redshirt sophomore DE Greg Rousseau leads all returnees in college football with 15.5 sacks. Roche was not far behind with 13. If the college football season is canceled Rousseau would likely miss out on his final season.

The breakout season Rousseau had in 2019 has him projected as a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Whether or not there is a season is highly unlikely to impact Rousseau’s draft status for next season. The one year of dominance produced enough film to show Rousseau is ready for the next level.

Quite a few other Miami players seem destined to leave early. Tight end Brevin Jordan is the other Hurricane that likely would not need another season of college football to improve his draft status. With two outstanding seasons for the Miami football team already, Jordan has cemented his status as a high round draft pick.

Several other Miami football players would likely strong seasons in 2020 to be able to turn pro to be sure where they will be selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. Some of those players to watch are DE Jaelan Phillips who sat out the 2019 season after transferring from UCLA and safeties Gurvan Hall and Bubba Bolden.

There are always a few surprises of players who could leave early for the NFL. The players who are not currently projected for the NFL in 2021 but could leave early might include defensive tackle Nesta Silvera, cornerbacks D.J. Ivey and Al Blades Jr and running back Cam’Ron Harris. With everything in flux its all speculation currently.