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Two weeks ago, prior to the start of fall camp, we learned that Vanderbilt linebacker Dimitri Moore, who was the team’s leading tackler in 2019, had opted out of playing football this season due to concerns about COVID-19.
Today, Moore went back on his previous opt-out, announcing via Instagram that he will, in fact, be playing for Vanderbilt this season:
Moore’s Instagram post sheds a little bit of light on his initial decision to opt out. His grandfather had passed away due to COVID-19, clearly hitting close to home and heightening his own concerns about the virus, but it appears that some reassurances from team doctors and other medical professionals led him to reconsider his decision.
Assuming that Vanderbilt has a football season, it will not be without its likely defensive leader. Moore’s return now means that the Commodores’ top 11 tacklers from 2019 will play for the team in 2020.