Sports Marketing CEO Predicts Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence Will Sit Out The Entire 2020 Season

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Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who was once called a “once-in-a-generation talent” coming out of high school, is going to have a huge decision to make when the 2019 college football season comes to an end.

The 6-foot-6 Lawrence, who was ranked as the best quarterback prospect ever by Mike Farrell of Rivals.com, already has one CFP National Championship under his belt after a freshman year that saw him throw an astounding 30 touchdown passes to just 4 interceptions with a 157.6 passer rating.

This year, for his sophomore season, Lawrence has an even higher passer rating of 176.4 with 34 TD passes to 8 picks, plus an additional 7 rushing touchdowns heading into Clemson’s College Football Playoff semifinal against Ohio State at the Fiesta Bowl.

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Unfortunately for him, Lawrence will be ineligible to be drafted by an NFL team in 2020 due to the league’s restrictions on drafting players who have been out of high school for less than three years. Were he eligible, there is a very good chance Lawrence would be the overall number one pick in the NFL draft.

Quite the conundrum.

Wednesday, on The Paul Finebaum Show, sports marketing expert, MELT Founder and CEO Vince Thompson said he believes Lawrence will just sit out the 2020 rather than risk injury and killing his draft value.

“I still will state to the fact that I think Tua comes back next year, and I’m going to give you one more prediction today: Trevor Lawrence sits out next year,” said Thompson.

When Finebaum expressed surprise at his statement, Thompson pointed out, correctly, “So what’s the upside? Unless he gets a $100 million insurance policy?”

On top of saving his body and securing his draft spot, Thompson also discussed the fact that Lawrence, were he to sit out, could already begin raking in the cash with endorsements and other marketing deals.

Whether or not this happens, Lawrence told ESPN before this season that “sitting out bowl games and stuff” is not something he was interested in doing, it will certainly be something to keep an eye on once all of the Bowl games have been completed.