Several Drake football players are using their COVID year to extend their playing career. Utah native and defensive back Joey Lukrich (loo-kritch) says playing college football will have an impact when he enters the working world.

Lukrich already has his degree and is in graduate school as he finishes his playing career.

Lukrich has a brother who had to give up college football because of an injury so for him the decision to return was an easy one.

Offensive lineman Brendan Burton already has his degree but the Waterloo native made the decision to return after having last season cut short by an injury.

Burton says for him it was an easy decision to return.

The Bulldogs open at North Dakota on September second.