ACC Medical Expert Says He Believes 2020 CFB Season Can Be Played Safely
Aug 11, 2020
Clemson running back Travis Etienne (9) escapes the tackle attempt by Virginia cornerback Heskin Smith (23) and Virginia linebacker Jordan Mack (4) during the first half of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019. Etienne scored a touchdown on the play. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Dr. Cameron Wolfe, the chair of the ACC's medical advisory team, expressed his belief that conferences could stage a 2020 fall college football season but acknowledged the hurdles standing in the way of that plan.
Wolfe provided his thoughts to Sports Business Daily's Michael Smith:
"We believe we can mitigate it down to a level that makes everyone safe. Can we safely have two teams meet on the field? I would say yes. Will it be tough? Yes. Will it be expensive and hard and lots of work? For sure. But I do believe you can sufficiently mitigate the risk of bringing COVID onto the football field or into the training room at a level that's no different than living as a student on campus."
Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke, added it's effectively impossible to make a football field "a zero-risk environment" in terms of spreading COVID-19. He added that football is inherently a risky sport given how often injuries occur in it and that "we have to accept a little bit of COVID risk to be a part of that."
His comments come after Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinneybothsaidthey thought their players would be safer if they stayed on campus and weren't left to their own devices.
Wolfe didn't make an explicit reference to housing players, but the approach has proven successful in protecting athletes and staffers from the coronavirus. Power Five conferences could adopt a similar strategy or at least implement health and safety protocols that are uniform across all schools, something for which the players themselves are advocating.
However, the broad idea that players are safer on campus than elsewhere seems to gloss over the COVID-19 outbreaks that multipleprogramsexperiencedthis summer once athletes started reporting for workouts.
The absence of clear protocols also leaves schools and coaches monitoring themselves. TheColoradoan'sMiles Blumhardtspoke with multiple players and staff members at Colorado State who said "coaches have told players not to report COVID-19 symptoms, threatened players with reduced playing time if they quarantine and claim CSU is altering contact tracing reports to keep players practicing."
And unlike pro athletes, college athletes aren't being compensated financially at a time when nobody is fully sure as to the long-term health effects of the coronavirus.
ESPN'sPaula Lavigne and Mark Schlabach reported that some university and conference administrators were concerned about athletes developingmyocarditis, a heart condition that has been linked to COVID-19. At least five athletes from the Big Ten have already come down with myocarditis, which in extreme cases can cause heart damage or cardiac arrest.
Clemson's Dabo Swinney Talks Possible CFB Players Association, COVID-19, More
Aug 10, 2020
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney speaks at a news conference for the NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, in New Orleans. Clemson is scheduled to play LSU on Monday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney believes his team's players are safer playing football and remaining with the team amid the COVID-19 pandemic as the 2020 college football season remains in doubt.
"We all know there's risk," he said, per David Hale of ESPN. "We all know there's a virus. But if we cancel football, the virus isn't going to go away. It's my belief that we're safer here. If you told me if we canceled football nobody'd get the virus, I'd be the first person to sign up."
The coach also advocated for Clemson's efforts during the pandemic, saying, "We've had one [positive test] since early July, and we've been together every day and practicing," per Matt Connolly of The State.
Swinney also said he "absolutely" supports a players association, although he was quick to point out "that's different from a union," per Wilson Alexander of The Advocate.
The comments on the players association come after Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields were among the college football players who issued a list of demands that included the right to "use our voices to establish open communication and trust between players and officials; ultimately create a college football players association."
Clemson running back Darien Rencher explained he and his teammate met with players from other Power Five conferences to take "a step toward one collective voice":
As for Swinney's belief players are safer remaining with the team and preparing for a season, he is far from the only prominent coach to feel that way.
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Buckeyes players want to take the field and feel safer at the facilities, perTom VanHaarenof ESPN. He added "we cannot cancel the season right now. We owe it to these kids."
Alabama head coach Nick Saban said, perAdam Rittenbergof ESPN, "I know I'll be criticized no matter what I say, that I don't care about player safety. Look, players are a lot safer with us than they are running around at home."
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh released a statement pushing for a season, saying the Wolverines have seen zero positive COVID-19 tests in the last 353 they administered:
In the statement, Harbaugh makes a case for why a season could still safely go on, which includes the program having zero positive tests out of the last 353 administered.
Swinney also said Clemson's medical team has continued to monitor for heart conditions, perHale. That is notable becausePaula Lavigne and Mark Schlabachof ESPN reported the heart condition myocarditis, which may be linked to COVID-19, has been found in at least five Big Ten athletes and some in other conferences as well.
It "is fueling concern among Power 5 conference administrators about the viability of college sports this fall," they wrote.
Despite the push from Swinney and other coaches, the 2020 college football season seems somewhat in doubt given the liability schools and conferences could face and the reality that doing something like a bubble—which has proven effective in other leagues—could require dropping the notion of amateurism and the idea the players are students first.
Dan Patrickreported the Big Ten and Pac-12 were leaning toward canceling the season on Tuesday, while the SEC was pushing for the ACC and Big 12 to join them for a season.
Trevor Lawrence Calls for Unity over 2020 CFB Season: 'There Is a Way Forward'
Aug 9, 2020
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence passes against LSU during the second half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Perhaps the most notable player in all of college football wants to play the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who already has a national championship and two College Football Playoff appearances in two years as a starter, wants to work together to play. He added, "There is a way forward."
Let’s work together to create a situation where we can play the game that all of us love. Not divide and argue. There is a way forward
Lawrence later continued to expand on why college football should continue as originally scheduled and added a list of guidelines players want, including "universal mandated health and safety procedures to protect college athletes against COVID-19 among all conferences throughout the NCAA":
Players being safe and taking all of the right precautions to try to avoid contracting covid because the season/ teammates safety is on the line. Without the season, as we’ve seen already, people will not social distance or wear masks and take the proper precautions
Lawrence made his comments with the immediate future of college football seriously in doubt. The MAC announced it postponed all fall sports until the spring Saturday, and the Big Ten announced it "will remain in the first two days of the acclimatization period in football (i.e., helmets shall be the only piece of protective equipment student-athletes may wear)."
Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated cited a source who said, "I think by the end of the week the fall sports will be postponed in all conferences," while Brett McMurphy of Stadium cited another who said: "College football season is done. I don't think everyone immediately follows MAC, but it gives other league presidents one more reason to make an easier decision. Biggest thing is unknown long-term impact of COVID and liability issues involved."
One thing is for sure: Lawrence wants another chance at a championship before he potentially heads to the NFL as a highly regarded draft pick in 2021.
Clemson's Trevor Lawrence Tweets 'I Don't Know About Y'all, but We Want to Play'
Aug 8, 2020
Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence scores past LSU safety JaCoby Stevens during the first half of a NCAA College Football Playoff national championship game Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The possibility of a 2020 college football season this fall appears less likely by the day, with news emerging Saturday that the Mid-American Conference will not be playing fall sports amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, some schools and conferences still plan to play this fall, and that includes the Clemson Tigers, whose quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, made it clear that he wants to take the field:
Per Grace Raynor of The Athletic, Lawrence had previously said that he would not sit out the 2020 season, which is an option that other top 2021 NFL draft prospects like the Clemson signal-caller have taken, including Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons and Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau.
"Trevor Lawrence said he felt like he was going to play the whole time," Raynor wrote. "Said it wasn't so much of a decision as it was deciding he'd reassess if he needed to."
Lawrence completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 36 touchdowns and eight interceptions last year en route to leading Clemson to a 14-1 record and national championship appearance.
Clemson is currently scheduled to open its season Sept. 12 against Wake Forest. The Tigers have made the College Football Playoff National Championship Game three of the past four seasons, winning twice.
Clemson's Xavier Thomas Likely to Redshirt Season After COVID-19, Strep Throat
Aug 7, 2020
Clemson's Xavier Thomas reacts to a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Florida State Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said Thursday that the Tigers will likely redshirt defensive end Xavier Thomas while he completes his recovery from COVID-19 and strep throat.
Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg reported Thomas would remain eligible to play four games later in the year if he's cleared for football activities.
"Xavier probably picked up 10-12 pounds during quarantine," Swinney told reporters. "That put him in a bad place mentally as well. He's nowhere near where he needs to be to be able to play football. The No. 1 thing we want is for these guys to be healthy. Last thing we want is for X to be half of his potential."
Thomas, a junior scheduled to graduate in December, recorded 60 total tackles, 16.5 tackles for a loss, five sacks and a forced fumble in 26 appearances across his first two years at Clemson.
"I'm really proud of X," Swinney said. "He has shown a lot of maturity and self-awareness."
Matthew Valdovinos of Pro Football Network ranked Thomas as the ninth-best edge-rusher in early rankings for the 2021 NFL draft. He wasn't listed among the top 25 overall prospects on the initial big board from Bleacher Report's Matt Miller in May.
Clemson was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country in the preseason USA Today Amway Coaches Poll released Thursday. The Tigers received 38 of the 65 first-place votes.
K.J. Henry figures to enter the starting lineup for the duration of Thomas' absence. Myles Murphy and Justin Mascoll are other options for more playing time opposite Justin Foster.
FSU's Marvin Wilson Never Considered Skipping Season: That's the Easy Way out
Aug 6, 2020
Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (21) moves in for the sack of Louisville quarterback Malik Cunningham (3) in the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tallahassee, Fla., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Wallheiser)
Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilsontold reporters on Thursday that he never considered sitting out the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has more social change he wants to accomplish while at the school.
"I didn'tcome backto sit out and just go prepare for the league," he said. "That's taking the easy way out. For me, personally, I feel like I have work to do here in Tallahassee."
Wilson has been vocal this offseason regarding issues within Florida State's program, which included calling out head coach Mike Norvell in June for saying he had spoken to every FSU player regarding the death of George Floyd. Norvell later clarified his remarks, saying he hadn't spoke individually to each player, perAdam Rittenbergof ESPN.
Wilson later thanked Norvell for "encouraging him" to use his public platform to advocate for change. He added:
"Me being a man of color, I want to be that change. I'm going to be an educated millionaire with a degree. And I'll be able to tell those kids that you can be whatever you want in this world if you put your mind to it and you work hard, because you come from royalty.
"You are black, and you should be proud of that. You stand for something, and you mean something. You have a story to tell and a story that needs to be heard no matter what. You are special."
In a team meeting, Wilson said the team discussed how to accomplish three main goals: To register players on the team to vote, to support fundraising efforts to help Black kids go to college and to fundraise to help children in Tallahassee.
Wilson is expected to be in the running to be off the board in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. Several other prominent prospects have chosen to sit out the 2020 season, including Penn State edge-rusher Micah Parsons, Minnesota wideout Rashod Bateman, Virginia Tech corner Caleb Farley and Purdue wideout Rondale Moore.
Miami's Greg Rousseau Will Opt Out of CFB Season amid Pandemic, Manny Diaz Says
Aug 6, 2020
Miami defensive lineman Gregory Rousseau (15) celebrates a turnover and wears the turnover chain during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Central Michigan, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Miami defensive end Gregory Rousseau has opted out of the 2020 college football season.
Hurricanes head coach Manny DiazconfirmedRousseau's decisionto reporterson Thursday. The redshirt sophomore had 15.5 sacks and 54 tackles in 2019, earning ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
"We support him 100 percent in his decision," Hurricanes defensive coordinator Blake Baker said, per Christy Chirinosof Miami's official athletics site. "We'd had some conversations with him in the previous days and knew it was something on his mind. ... At the end of the day, we support him."
Rousseau joins the list of players who have decided to sit out the upcoming year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley was thefirst, followed by Minnesota receiver wide receiverRashod Batemanand Penn State defensive endMicah Parsons.
Given what he achieved in his first full season on the field, expectations were high for Rousseau. Bleacher Report'sMatt Millerranked him 11th in his initial big board for the 2021 draft:
"Production usually catches your eye first when putting together an early big board. Then you go back and watch the player to see whether he has the requisite athleticism to make him a good draft prospect.
"Gregory Rousseau's 15.5 sacks last season is the kind of production you love to see, especially when coupled with a 6'7", 253-pound frame that has quickness and length but is still getting stronger."
Rousseau may have already played his last game for Miami, and the obvious question is whether he's the last highly ranked draft prospect who decides to opt out.
Couple quick thoughts on college guys opting out:
1) Rousseau is special. Best player I’ve studied in the upcoming class.
2) More big names are going to announce soon.
3) Some other big names are waiting to see if the season will happen before opting out.
"I know there's probably some guys that can see more playing time and will probably thrive on that situation," Baker said of Miami's remaining options at defensive end, perChirinos.
Miami had added Quincy Roche as a graduate transfer from Temple to bolster its D-line. Roche had 26 sacks and 39.5 tackles for loss over three seasons with the Owls. The redshirt senior was already slated to start alongside Rousseau, so now Miami will need to figure out who replaces Rousseau at defensive end.
Jaelan Phillips might be the likeliest candidate. Phillips sat out 2019 after transferring from UCLA. He collected 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss through his first two years with the Bruins.
5-Star DT Prospect Leonard Taylor Commits to Miami over Florida
Aug 6, 2020
Highly touted defensive tackle Leonard Taylor committed to Miami.
He announced his decision Thursday on CBS Sports HQ, selecting the Hurricanes over the Florida Gators.
BREAKING: 5-Star DT Leonard Taylor commits to Miami.@56reasons_ projects as a standout with All-American potential who can develop into a future first-round pick.
Taylor is the No. 3 DT and No. 27 player overall in the 2021 class, per 247Sports' Composite rankings. He's also the sixth-best player in the state of Florida.
The Miami native had 68 tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 11 sacks during the 2019 season.
In his scouting report of Taylor, 247Sports' Charles Power drew a parallel to New York Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams:
"Is a fluid and natural athlete playing along the defensive line. Uses his length to disengage from opposing offensive linemen and wins with a strong first step and quick swim move. Incredibly disruptive as an interior pass rusher. Gets his hands on a lot of footballs whether it's by using his long arms to disrupt passing lanes or blocking kicks. Plays with good pad level and body lean. Finds multiple ways to disrupt the offensive game plan."
Given his size (6'4", 255 lbs), he looks more like an edge-rusher when he penetrates the offensive line to blow up a play in the backfield.
Taylor competed in the Under Armour All-American camp in Miami in March and was one of the standout performers. His strength and athleticism were immediately apparent during the various drills.
In order to stay at defensive tackle, he'll need to add some weight. Going back to Power's comparison, Williams is listed as one inch shorter than Taylor and 48 pounds heavier on his NFL.com profile.
That's not a pressing concern, though, since getting on a regular strength-and-conditioning regimen at Miami will allow him to fill out his frame.
The physical tools are otherwise there for Taylor, and he could be unstoppable if he gets even stronger. The Miami Palmetto High School star could play right away for Miami in a situational role, and he has the potential to contend for all of the top defensive honors over the next few years.
His commitment is a massive boost for the Hurricanes' 2021 class. They were 11th in 247Sports' composite team rankings prior to Thursday's news, with James Williams the only other 5-star recruit who has pledged his future to the school.
NC State's Dave Doeren 'More Worried' About Heat Illness, Injuries Than COVID-19
Aug 4, 2020
North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren paces on the sideline during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, in Atlanta. Georgia Tech won 28-26. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Although the coronavirus pandemic has been on the forefront of everyone's mind lately, North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren has greater concerns heading into the college football season.
"I don't mean this in a way that I'm not respecting COVID—because there are so many precautions for that—but I'm more worried about heat illness and season-ending injuries than I am about a virus, that in most cases in our guys' age group, is three to five days," Doeren said Tuesday, per Josh Graham of WSJS Sports Hub.
North Carolina State began its fall camp on Aug. 3 while preparing for an 11-game 2020 season. All ACC teams will play 10 conference games and one non-conference game, beginning on Sept. 7.
Season-ending injuries could be damaging for a team, especially after longer layoffs between training sessions compared to past years. Heat-related issues are also a significant concern, especially after Maryland offensive lineman Jordan McNairdied after collapsingduring a football workout in May 2018.
COVID-19 still remains an issue, especially with student-athletes returning to campus.
While older adults are certainly more at-risk, there have still been over 200 coronavirus deaths of people 15-24 years old in the United States, per theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.
Indiana offensive lineman Brady Feeney has also suffered serious effects from COVID-19, as his mother detailed Monday:
Intense Facebook post here from Debbie Rucker, mother of Indiana freshman OL Brady Feeney. pic.twitter.com/Ula5lBQfO2
Even if many football players are able to recover within a few days, Doeren shouldn't overlook the potentially damaging disease or the potential for infected players to spread the disease to others in more vulnerable groups.
From Serbia to CFB
Aug 3, 2020
He is all alone in Room 225 at Ascender Hall East. It is a Friday afternoon in the middle of June. Dinnertime nears. His workouts for the day are done, and his nightly routine will soon commence. Ilija Krajnovic is both thankful for an opportunity that will change his life and homesick in a way he can't quite put into words.
His roommate left months ago, back when everything first started to shut down in the United States. Here at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, one of the most prestigious high school football programs in America, June is normally a time when the campus is flush with future collegiate stars preparing for the season. But not this year. Not with the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc on the world—prompting IMG to send each one of its football players home.
With the exception of one.
Krajnovic stayed. Not because he wanted to stay, but because he had no choice. First, because he wasn't allowed to return to his home in Zrenjanin, Serbia. Then, because he wasn't sure he would be allowed to come back and his dream of becoming the first player from his country to play in the NFL would be derailed.
It's a dream that has existed for only 16 months. That's how long Krajnovic has been playing football. But that short time has convinced him it can be reality.
He has yet to play in a game on American soil. And his game, by his own admission, has a long way to go. At 6'8" and 325 pounds, though, Krajnovic is blessed with a professional lineman's body and a champion's fire.
"I know this: If he was a kid in Cincinnati, 247Sports and Rivals would have him as a 5-star prospect," says Paul Alexander, a longtime NFL offensive line coach who helped discover Krajnovic. "If he came up with football, he'd be one of the top high school offensive linemen in the country."
Boston College saw the talent. The school was so intrigued by the size and the gifts and the potential that it extended him a scholarship offer before seeing him play. The 17-year-old senior-to-be didn't hesitate with his response.
Amid chaos and loneliness, Krajnovic's breakthrough arrived more quickly than he could've ever imagined. And while he is anxious to go home and celebrate with his family and friends, he also wants to be here, where his dreams are coming true, where he knows that somewhere beyond this current life of loneliness and waiting, a debut and another step toward his future await.
From the chest up, Krajnovic looks a bit like Rob Gronkowski: lime green tank top with black trim, gray reading glasses, shaved head. Although his shoulders, neck and head seem to occupy much of the computer screen on the Zoom call, he still has a babyface and an overpowering smile that he is not shy in sharing.
"You can call me Elijah," he says through a thick Serbian accent. "In English, that's my name."
He began learning English at his elementary school in Serbia. On occasion, he'll take a long pause—not to search for the appropriate words but to gather his thoughts.
While his English lessons began early, he credits football for his rapid improvement. Spending six months in the United States has allowed his vocabulary to flourish. Even with his teammates gone, Krajnovic says, YouTube, Call of Duty and movies have only fast-tracked his growth.
But the language Krajnovic speaks most fluently is actually music. He starts each morning by blasting electronic in his room. With the hallways empty, he can listen as loud as he likes as he showers and brushes his teeth.
"To the max," he says. "I want my mornings sounding good."
At night, after he plays a few games of FIFA 20 in the lobby with the select few athletes in other sports still on campus, he retreats to his room, and the music blasts again. Once he finds the proper inspiration, he then fires up his black keyboard, PC and speakers—things that were given to him when he arrived to help pass the time—and creates some music of his own.
While many experiences since he came to the U.S. have been firsts, this is not one of them. Since elementary school, music has been a fixture of Krajnovic's life. It started with the trumpet and then the piano and then came a love of electronic music.
As the love grew stronger, Krajnovic ventured out to electronic music festivals in Serbia. He eventually connected with a few local DJs in search of advice. In a matter of months, at the age of 15, he was DJing at nightclubs across Serbia.
"Elite nightclubs," he emphasizes. "The most elite clubs in my country."
Because of his size, Krajnovic was rarely questioned about his age. If an owner of a club asked, he never lied. Nor did they ever seem to care.
His nights often started around 11 p.m and ended sometime near sunrise. If the nightclub was close to home, he would walk home. If it was in another city, his father, Rade, would drive him and pick him up the following morning. In some instances, if the gig was in the middle of the week, he would sleep an hour or so and head to school.
The money was good. So good that Krajnovic thought it would be his calling. So good that some weeks he would earn nearly as much money as his father—who works as a forest ranger—made in a month.
DJing wasn't just a passion. It was a necessity. It was a chance to take financial pressure off his family.
"I learned that I needed to have my own money because my parents were not in a situation to provide it sometimes," he says. "I wanted to help them. They didn't have to think or worry about me anymore."
His last night of DJing came on New Year's Eve of last year. A few weeks later, he got on a plane and headed to America.
Before football, there was volleyball. Before volleyball, there was water polo. Before that, kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Basketball. Soccer. At some point or another, Krajnovic tried every sport available to him. He always seemed to gravitate to contact sports, though.
"The referee can't see what happens underwater when you play water polo," he says. "That's a nasty sport."
In his final game, after playing water polo for two years, Krajnovic was kicked in a place no one wants to be kicked. He responded with a punch, breaking his opponent's nose.
In volleyball, he was a middle blocker for the U19 Serbian team. His height provided a natural advantage. Over the course of seven years, his game blossomed. But when his coach asked him to lose weight, he began searching for something else.
His older brother, Jovan, encouraged him to try football. Jovan had picked it up years earlier, playing defensive end, and sold him on the idea.
"He told me that this was a sport where you can beat up people legally," Krajnovic says. "So, I was really excited about it."
In March 2019, Krajnovic joined a local league composed of men mostly in their 30s and 40s. Working men who, like Krajnovic, were into the idea of regulated violence.
On his first day, he was largely unable to participate because they didn't have pads or a helmet that fit him. When they found him some that did, he was immediately disruptive. Krajnovic played nose tackle at the start. Knowing little about the rules and strategy, his size took over.
When the league's season ended later that summer, Krajnovic latched onto the Serbian U19 team in the fall. He switched from the defensive line to offensive line at his coach's recommendation—a change he protested at first.
"I wanted to chase and not be chased," he says.
The move was made to take advantage of his physical gifts even more so than he already was. While he fought it at first, he settled into his new role. And soon after, others began to take notice.
It was a cold, rainy December day last year in Berlin. Krajnovic and his father had just spent two days in the car, driving from Serbia to Germany for a football camp in a gymnasium normally reserved for soccer.
Rade had taken out a loan to pay for the trip. It was the second time his son had been invited to one of these camps, which are crucial for European prospects to get enough exposure to get recruited by U.S. teams. The family had declined the first opportunity. Rade didn't want to deny his son another.
"I knew that I had to do it," Rade says. "And I wanted to give him a chance to make it happen. I really didn't know what would happen, but I didn't want any regrets."
The man behind the camp, Brandon Collier, has made it his mission to place football players from around the world on college campuses in the United States. Collier, the founder of PPI Recruits, has worked with football players in more than 20 countries.
Over time, Collier has built up an expanding pipeline of coaches who recommend players. When he heard from one of these coaches about a 6'8" Serbian lineman, he had to know more.
Accompanying Collier to Berlin was Alexander, who served as the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line coach for 23 years and has worked with some of the best collegiate offensive linemen in the past two drafts.
When Alexander first laid eyes on Krajnovic, he was instantly intrigued. The size. The presence. The confidence. "He looked like a 5-star recruit," Alexander recalls.
As the two began to work, Alexander saw just how raw Krajnovic still was. They started from scratch—with his stance—and the crash course began. Despite the obvious inexperience, there were glimpses. Enough of them to convince both Alexander and Collier there was something to work with.
In the weeks that followed, it wasn't Collier who made the first move. Instead, he received a call from IMG Academy. It needed a lineman.
Krajnovic, who had never heard of the program, developed an interest as he learned about the school's reputation. The major hurdle, however, was again finances.
Getting to Berlin was enough of a struggle; getting to the United States was almost unfathomable by comparison.
Rade thought about selling his car to pay for it. Instead, he ultimately settled on a seven-year loan—a loan he will pay long after his son is out of high school and even college.
"That's love," Krajnovic says. "They want a better life for me."
The first practice was hell. His words.
January 28, 2020. A date he'll remember for the rest of his life.
Krajnovic remembers how out of place he felt. How sore his body was when he lifted weights for the first time. How awful, even after refinement, his stance and technique were.
He was never star-struck. Perhaps because he didn't know any better. But more than likely, it's just who he is and where he comes from.
Beneath the charm and smile, there is a fire. He was born with it. And in Serbia, it just becomes you. Krajnovic would prefer not to talk about the politics of his country—or about his family's financial struggles and how different his upbringing has been than those he meets here.
Lining up against some of the best football players in the country in a sport he doesn't truly fully comprehend yet? By comparison, it doesn't feel so bad.
"I don't give a f--k who you are or what your rating is," he says. "I'm just going to block you and you're not going to pass me, and that's it. I played with 40-year-olds who were like angry dogs. I've fought with grown men, and they couldn't pass me.
"Some kid who has so many stars and is committed somewhere thinks he can? Bulls--t. You're not."
Bobby Acosta was acclimating to life at IMG Academy when the world shut down.
Before being named the head coach of the national varsity team in late January, he had worked as an assistant at the collegiate level. This was his breakthrough job, in many respects. But then six weeks in, just as familiarity was setting in, everything changed. The pandemic arrived, his players went home and, like that, he was left with one player he knew little about who had played football for only a year.
But Acosta was fascinated. He assumed at first that Krajnovic had to be one of the most coveted offensive linemen in the country based on his appearance alone. Then he watched him struggle. Then he learned his story.
When the campus emptied, Krajnovic came to Acosta's office and bared his soul. He was scared, bored and all alone in a new country. In many respects, Acosta shared the same emotions.
"My family was still in New Jersey at the time," Acosta says. "My kids were in New Jersey. I was alone here. If it wasn't for Ilija, I think I'd also be lost."
Together, they built a routine. They found comfort in each other's company. It was born out of necessity but quickly evolved into something more.
They went fishing. They ate dinner. They drove a golf cart around campus, talking about life and football and where Krajnovic came from.
One night, Krajnovic drove the two of them in the golf cart to the football field. It was his first time driving. And then they sat, overlooking the vacant grass, and talked some more.
"He thanked me for helping him become successful," Acosta says. "And [he said] that he would take care of me and my kids in the future. That's when it really hit me about this job. I knew why I was here."
He couldn't squat the barbell when he arrived. The motion was too unfamiliar. His muscles were still so untrained. It wasn't until these past few months that Krajnovic's football life has changed.
For him, the pandemic brought heavy emotional burden and seclusion, but it also allowed him one-on-one training and a level of guidance he likely would've never received had this not occurred.
George Hegamin recognized the opportunity. The offensive line coach at IMG Academy won a Super Bowl playing for the Dallas Cowboys. He also spent a season in Germany playing for the Frankfurt Galaxy—seeing firsthand the interest in the sport outside the United States.
He too saw the rawness, and the potential. And so, each day the two worked together while navigating unique social-distancing guidelines. They began with his stance, which was completely overhauled for a second time. From there, they progressed into his technique and the terminology and the nuance of playing a complicated position.
"Had we continued under normal circumstances, he would have still gotten better," Hegamin says. "I just don't think he would have gotten as much better as fast. The pandemic basically allowed three months of one-on-one tutoring. He's benefited from that greatly."
Krajnovic was not shy about asking questions or having a dialogue with coaches about his progress. And with each day, Hegamin saw the guidance translate into results.
Those results also translated to the weight room. Krajnovic went from being unable to properly squat the bar to having a 405-pound squat. He added 25 pounds to his frame.
He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.93 seconds. Rare speed for the position and even rarer for someone his size.
"Ilija will be a productive college football player," Hegamin adds. "With his measurables and his willpower, could the NFL be a possibility? Absolutely. Because the one thing you can't coach is size. They're not rolling out 6'8", 325-pound men that can move every day."
The coaches, recognizing the progress, decided to film Krajnovic doing drills one afternoon during the shutdown on the sand volleyball courts. Not game tape. No real competition. Just drills and movement.
When Boston College saw the footage, knowing that he was still months away from playing his first high school game, it made its offer.
Krajnovic committed on the spot.
He is no longer alone in his dorm. Instead he is sitting to the left of his father at their home in Serbia.
A few days after his first interview with B/R, as travel restrictions eased and he became more comfortable with the idea that he could go home and be able to return, Krajnovic would take a 13-hour, 5,500-mile trip to Zrenjanin. Finally. Back to the place where he used to DJ at some of the country's most established nightclubs as a teenager. Back to a city that hardened him growing up. Back to a country he never thought he'd leave.
He is shirtless, having finished a workout. It is early July. Dinnertime in Serbia approaches. Father and son just spoke with the coaches at Boston College. While Rade doesn't fully grasp the process just yet, he knows his son's life is about to change and that his gamble and faith are already paying dividends.
It took Krajnovic a few days to adjust to the six-hour time change and jet lag, but he is happy to be home to see his family and friends for a few weeks.
When the two met at the airport, Ilija hugged his father, lifted him up into the air and twirled him around. Neither of them thought this reunion would come so quickly. In truth, they didn't know it would happen at all.
But it is here, even if he hasn't played a single down. And while the immediate future for football and life is still crammed with many unknowns, there is a certain peace and calm they both share.
The plan is to finish the fall at IMG Academy and enroll early at Boston College in January. But before then, plenty of questions remain.
When will Krajnovic debut? What will it look like when he does? Will there be football played at all? Will other college football programs eventually show interest?
In time, those questions will be answered. For now, the journey remains on pause.
The grind, however, persists. Since coming home, Krajnovic has managed to work out almost every day. He's hungrier than he's ever been, and he's equipped with the knowledge and training to put that hunger into motion.
As he works, not in the pristine facilities at IMG Academy but the fields a few blocks from his home, he finds himself thinking even bigger.
"My dream now is to become the first Serbian NFL player," he says. "That is my dream. With that kind of money, I'm going to change my life and my family's life completely."
In less than a week, he will depart Serbia and return to America. Back to his dorm room and his keyboard. Back to the practice fields where there is still so much left to learn.
But at least right now, as father and son sit side by side trading occasional smiles on the other side of the world, the road ahead doesn't seem so daunting.
Adam Kramer covers college football and recruiting for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter: @KegsnEggs.
