BLACKSBURG, Va. – “One day I looked around, and we were like 100-deep in our indoor facility, no masks. My concern grew more and more.”
That’s what former Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley wrote in Peter King’s Football Morning in America column, published Sunday.
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Last week, Farley opted-out of the upcoming football season, becoming the first high-profile college football player to do so. He’s viewed as an early-round pick in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft.
10 Sports also had the chance to speak with Farley about his decision.
In his column, Farley provided more details about his decision.
“This year at Virginia Tech, at our workouts, I started having deep concerns about staying healthy. Guys were going home, going to Myrtle Beach, coming back to campus, and we weren’t getting tested. We’re all together, working out, close to each other, and you have no real idea who might have it, if anybody might have it.”
Caleb Farley, former Virginia Tech football player
Farley also talked about how when he went to head coach Justin Fuente to leave the team.
Fuente tried to talk him out of the decision, but in the end, told Farley he loved him and that he’d always be a Caleb Farley fan.
On Monday, the Virginia Tech athletic department released a statement.
The statement came from Dr. Mark Rogers, the chief medical officer for the athletic department
A few hours after Rogers’ statement was released Fuente released one of his own.
“I spoke with Caleb earlier today and I feel much better about the context of his comments regarding his personal concerns regarding COVID-19. In our conversation I also told Caleb that I will always love and support him and that I’m looking forward to cheering him on as he pursues his dream of playing in the National Football League. We at Virginia Tech will always wish Caleb Farley and his family the very best.
“One of my most important responsibilities as the head coach of the football program at Virginia Tech is to put the best interests of our team, our players, our coaches and our staff at the forefront of every decision we make. We are entrusted with that task every day. I have the utmost confidence in medical guidance provided by our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mark Rogers and our Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine, Mike Goforth, as well as the plan they are implementing along with our campus officials to allow our team to train and prepare for the upcoming season. I appreciate their tireless work and support the procedures they have put in place for our team.”
Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech football head coach