Pitt defensive lineman Jaylen Twyman announced his decision to opt out of the 2020 season earlier this month, but he continues to accrue accolades, as he earned first-team preseason All-America honors from the Associated Press on Tuesday.
The 6’2”, 290-pound defensive tackle was one of 11 college football players included on the list who are not expected to play this fall. The decision to include such players follows a similar decision by the AP to include teams that have already canceled or postponed their football seasons in its preseason poll.
Pitt received no votes in that poll largely because of its late-season losses to Boston College and Virginia Tech and its lackluster offense, but Twyman’s departure may well have contributed to the team’s struggle to gain preseason recognition.