Heisman Trophy favorite Trevor Lawrence tests positive for coronavirus, will miss game

Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and to be the No. 1 NFL draft pick if he leaves school at the end of the season, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Saturday’s game against Boston College. 

“I have tested positive for COVID-19, and my symptoms have been relatively mild while I’m following the protocol from Clemson and the ACC,” Lawrence said in a statement shared on Twitter. “The only thing that hurts is missing an opportunity to be with my teammates this weekend and play the game I love.”

“I hate that I can’t be there, but I’ll be watching from isolation and pulling for our guys while I wait for the opportunity to rejoin the team,” the player added. 

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement Thursday night that the quarterback was isolating and would not be playing in Saturday’s game. 

“While we certainly will miss Trevor, this is an opportunity for other guys to step up and we’re excited about competing against a very good BC team on Saturday,” Swinney wrote.

The coach’s statement did not say if other players on the team, ranked first in the country, had also been tested or if any had come into close contact with Lawrence. 

Under coronavirus guidelines established by the ACC’s medical advisory group, any player who contracts the virus must isolate for at least 10 days after the test and no longer be showing symptoms before returning to practice. 

According to ESPN, this guideline would mean that Lawrence could potentially also miss Clemson’s upcoming game against No. 4 Notre Dame, scheduled for Nov. 7.

Lawrence is a favorite for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most valuable player in NCAA football. He led Clemson to the national championship two seasons ago.

So far this season, Lawrence has completed 71 percent of his throws and 21 total touchdowns through six games, ESPN reported. 

Many others among college football have tested positive for COVID-19, raising concerns on the safety of players and the continuation of the seasons. 

On Wednesday, the University of Wisconsin paused its football activities because of an increased number of cases within the program. 

As of Wednesday morning, 12 people in the Wisconsin program tested positive, including six athletes and six staff, while additional tests were pending. Head coach Paul Chryst was one of the staff members who tested positive.