Rashawn Slater is the latest CFB star to opt out of the season in order to focus on the 2021 draft. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Northwestern OL Rashawn Slater opts out, declares for 2021 NFL Draft

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/20/20

With the Big Ten football season postponed through at least the end of the year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Northwestern offensive lineman Rashawn Slater confirmed via Twitter that he will forego any college campaign and focus on the 2021 NFL Draft:

Wildcat for Life #NWO pic.twitter.com/3n7ELT2zKF
— Rashawn Slater (@rdsl8r) August 20, 2020

Michigan's Jalen Mayfield and USC's Jay Tufele made the same decision earlier this week. The Pac-12 postponed football and fall sports along with the Big Ten on Aug. 11.

Per ESPN's Tom VanHaaren, Slater started in 37 games and made 30 consecutive starts during his tenure with the Wildcats. He surrendered one quarterback hit, five pressures and zero sacks across 11 games his final collegiate season.

In NFL mock drafts updated on June 22, Chris Trapasso and Josh Edwards of CBS Sports both projected Slater as a first-round pick for the 2021 class.

That same month, Charlie Campbell of Walter Football wrote:

"Slater has been a starting right tackle for Northwestern, but he projects to the NFL for a move inside to guard. His run blocking is ahead of his pass protection n, but he could end up rising with a strong senior year and a solid all-star game performance."

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