The redshirt sophomore still has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images
In the wake of a Covid-19 outbreak amongst the Cardinal defense, Louisville LB Thurman Gaethers has announced that he is opting out of the remainder of the 2020 season.
Gaethers, a redshirt sophomore, played in U of L’s first six games of the season, recording four assisted tackles, including half a sack against Notre Dame. He did not play in Saturday’s loss to Virginia Tech, where the Cardinals were without eight defensive players because of Covid-related issues.
“He has had some ups and downs throughout his career, which has led to some frustration,” Louisville head coach Scott Satterfield said of Gaethers on Monday. “He did not play a whole lot on Saturday and he just decided he wanted to pack it up. It is unfortunate, but you know he wants to move in another direction so that is where we are headed with that.
I have told our guys we want guys that want to be here. You have to be 100 percent committed. This is not a sport where you can be half in and half out. You have to be 100 percent committed to do everything that you are asked to do, and all that does is give you a chance to be successful. That is where we are with it. I think the guys that are here that are going to continue to work hard and move forward will get this thing rolling.”
After redshirting the 2018 season, Gaethers appeared in all 13 games for Louisville a year ago, mostly on special teams. Per NCAA rules, he still has three seasons of full collegiate eligibility remaining.
Satterfield said during his Monday press conference that the players who missed last weekend’s game will likely be out for Saturday’s game against Virginia as well.
