If Syracuse football moves to the spring, will star players opt out?
With the clock ticking on if a fall season will be safe enough, some signs point at a spring season. A few Syracuse football players may have to rethink it.
In recent weeks it has become apparent that a fall football season is becoming more unlikely by the day. While this may not be the news Syracuse football fans want, as the Orange are seemingly heading into a bounce-back season, it’s important to know that it is a real concern.
The idea of football moving to a spring season does seem outlandish, and in all likelihood will not happen. In an article on cbssports.com, Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said it would be a “last resort”. However, the fact that it is even being considered makes it at least somewhat plausible.
The article does bring up a valid point about how star players could opt out of the spring season in order to prepare for the NFL Draft. Whether that be improving on individual drills, getting stronger, or not risking injury, the NFL is where the money is made and is more important for the players looking to be drafted high.
For Syracuse football, this brings up the idea of safety Andre Cisco sitting out his junior season in order to get himself in the best possible place to be ready for the NFL Draft. Cisco has been an almost constant first-round draft projection by most experts.
Now in no way am I saying that Cisco would go out this way on his team. A lot would have to happen for a decision like this to be made. However, given his star power, there comes a time when he may have to be selfish, given the money that he could gain or lose at the next level.
My gut tells me that he wouldn’t sit a spring season out, or perhaps only sit out a portion. The Syracuse football market alone makes it tough for Cisco, as the Orange aren’t on people’s radars as much as an Alabama or Ohio State. Because of this, if he played a few games for the ‘Cuse, it could help his stock even more, and then no one would bat an eye if he decided to lace it up early in case of an injury.
However, no one knows what Andre Cisco will do and if this is even on his mind at the moment. For now, he and the rest of the Orange football team are focused on a fall season happening.