WVU Football Player Tests Positive for COVID-19

One member of the West Virginia football team has tested positive for COVID-19 upon his return to campus, the team announced on Monday.

The player, who was not identified by the WVU release, will enter a 14-day period of self-isolation. Contact tracing has been used to identify other student athletes and staff that may have been exposed. Those individuals will also be self-isolating. The WVU release did not disclose the number of potentially exposed individuals.

WVU will continue with its offseason plans despite the positive test. Voluntary workouts for players that initially tested negative began on Monday, the first day they were permitted to return to the field according to the Big 12’s plan to reopen college athletics after a three-month shutdown. 

Players can participate in voluntary, player-led workouts as well as eight hours per week of mandatory fitness and instruction with the coaches.

The news comes on the heels of reports around the country of college football players testing positive on their return to campus. One Florida State player tested positive last week. Two Clemson football players and four Mississippi State players were announced as having positive tests on Friday. Over the weekend, Iowa State announced that 10 athletes and two football players had tested positive. 

Reports on Monday surfaced that members of the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans have also tested positive for COVID-19. None of those organizations announced cancellations or changes to their offseason programs.

That has not been the case at the high school level. At least two Texas high schools have shut down their summer programs after players tested positive.