FSU's Marvin Wilson Never Considered Skipping Season: That's the Easy Way out

Florida State defensive tackle Marvin Wilson told 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't come back to 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, per Adam Rittenberg of 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.