Bateman, a third-team All-America choice last fall as a sophomore, selected not to play in 2020 back on Aug. 4, pointing out concerns with the coronavirus pandemic and desiring to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. He then signed with agent Blake Baratz of IFA. The Big Ten Conference later canceled all fall sports.
Bateman has gone back to school and is practicing with the team, and the Gophers are working on a waiver so he can play this season, coach P.J. Fleck stated in a declaration Friday.
Bateman caught 60 passes for 1,219 backyards and 11 goals last season and was a key cog in the Gophers offense, along with quarterback Tanner Morgan.
” Rashod and I have had many favorable conversations given that the Big Ten announced it was going to contend in football this fall,” Flecks statement said. “Rashod at first chose out because of personal health concerns surrounding COVID-19, and now feels comfy rejoining the team after the Big Ten announced the precaution it was taking to protect student-athletes, that includes everyday antigen screening.
” Rashod is registered in school and has been offered a waiver to experiment the team, which he did so today.
Now that the conference reversed its decision and will begin a nine-game season Oct. 23-24, Bateman desires back and is registered at the University for this fall semester, per online records.
Rashod Bateman, the reigning Big 10 Receiver of the Year, desires another chance to play for the Gophers after choosing out since of coronavirus issues earlier this year.
” The process for him to be approved a waiver to compete this fall is a bit more complex, but our compliance workplace is working carefully with the NCAA and Big Ten to come to a resolution. It is our hope that Rashod will have the ability to represent Minnesota as a student-athlete this fall.”
Several college gamers pulled out of the season in the previous month, and numerous now find themselves in the same scenario as Bateman. Signing with a representative terminates a gamers college eligibility, so Bateman likely would need to go through the NCAAs Student-Athlete Reinstatement Process.
