Pitt's Jaylen Twyman opts out, returns home to 'be with my family'

A day after Pitt defensive coordinator Randy Bates said he would be shocked if one of his players decided not to play this season out of respect to covid-19, All-ACC defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman revealed Saturday his plans to return home and skip the 2020 season.

“This past year has been crazy for so many people,” Twyman wrote on Twitter. “It makes you realize you have responsibilities beyond yourself. That’s why I have decided to opt out of the 2020 season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft and to return home and be with my family.”

Twyman, who lives in Washington, D.C., said his decision “isn’t about covid-19.”

“This is about my family’s needs now and in the future.”

The loss is significant because he gave the Panthers a formidable pass rush up the middle. Twyman, 6-foot-2, 290 pounds, led Pitt with 12 tackles for a loss and 10¹⁄₂ sacks last season.

Coach Pat Narduzzi admitted Friday he understands why some players, especially top NFL prospects such as Twyman, would decide to opt out.

“It’s a day-by-day,” Narduzzi said. “If kids start to get scared, you understand what’s going on.”

In a statement Saturday, Narduzzi wrote: “Nothing is more important than family and Jaylen has our full support in this decision. I will continue to help him in any way I can as he pursues his dreams in football and life. That includes playing in the NFL as well as finishing his University of Pittsburgh degree. Jaylen is a true Panther and Pitt will always be home for him.”

We will miss you, Jaylen. Always a Pitt Man. Forever a Panther. pic.twitter.com/gVAOpN7Cxf

— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) August 8, 2020

Forever, Thankful. ??#TGSM pic.twitter.com/PBovYxjLfc

— JT (@JaylenTwyman) August 8, 2020

Twyman, 21, was one of four Pitt players who decided to return this season when they could have turned to the NFL. He joins a growing list of college football players who have opted out, including projected high-round draft picks Gregory Rousseau, a defensive end at Miami, and Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley.

Twyman’s announcement marks the second year in a row the Panthers have lost a key member of their defensive line early in training camp. Defensive end Rashad Weaver suffered a knee injury during practice Aug. 8, 2019, and was lost for the season.

Twyman, 21, was one of four Pitt players who decided to return this season when they could have turned to the NFL.

Narduzzi, who held his second day of drills Saturday, has built depth on the defensive line, and the return of Weaver and defensive tackle Keyshon Camp (knee) will help.

Bates said Twyman is unique among his peers.

“His level of preparation and study far exceeds the normal college football player,” he said. “He passes that along to everybody else.”

He is considered a top NFL prospect at his position, and has a chance to be drafted early next year.

“Let’s hope we don’t find his ceiling,” Bates said Friday before Twyman’s decision was made public. “Let’s hope they find it a few years from now. They did that with Aaron Donald, probably.”

Twyman’s absence opens opportunities for sophomore tackles Devin Danielson (Thomas Jefferson), David Green (Central Catholic) and Tyler Bentley.

Meanwhile, Pitt experienced a loss of another kind Saturday when the Mid-American Conference announced it is canceling fall sports for the 2020 season. Pitt was scheduled to open the season Sept. 12 at Heinz Field against MAC member Miami (Ohio).

The MAC is the first FBS conference to cancel sports for the fall.

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