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| The Campus Forum for everything about college. From the hot prospects for the draft to the BCS discussion. |
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01-11-2011
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 Players Available for NFL Draft Oregon State RB Rodgers will apply for NFL draft
Rodgers, a 5-foot-7, 191-pound junior, finishes his college career with 3,877 rushing yards, second in school history behind Ken Simonton. Rodgers has scored 46 rushing touchdowns, also second to Simonton. Rodgers is the school's career leader with receptions for a running back with 151. Rodgers said he will return to Oregon State to finish his degree in ethnic studies. His older brother, James, recently was given an extra year of eligibility after missing most of this past season because of knee surgery. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Oregon State RB Rodgers will apply for NFL draft
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01-11-2011
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| LSU CB Peterson believes time is now to try NFL draft
"I pretty much achieved all my goals here," said Peterson, who won the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and the Bednarik Award as the top defender in college football. "I believe it just was the right time to go."  In his junior year, Patrick Peterson captured the Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back and the Bednarik Award as the top defender in college football. (Patrick Semansky/Associated Press)Even Tigers coach Les Miles agreed. "This is a decision that Patrick Peterson and his family made independent of me, but I want to say simply that I agree with it completely," Miles said. Miles said Peterson has performed so well both as a cornerback and kick and punt returner that he has put himself in a "draft position that is really too good to forgo." Peterson wore a gold LSU pin on the lapel of his gray suit at his announcement Monday and passionately spoke about his love for the Tigers and his playing days in the stadium known as Death Valley, which called "the best stadium I've ever, ever been part of." "I'd like to thank the wonderful fans at LSU," Peterson said. "There is no place in America that has the fans and student body that we have." There were no tears and no signs of regret about his decision to forego his senior season and apply for the NFL draft. Peterson, who also was the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year for 2010, was widely expected to make his junior season his last in college. "Leaving this place with the ability that I have was just a no-brainer for me," he said. The 6-foot-1, 222-pound junior routinely covered opponents' top receivers one-on-one. He had four interceptions and returned two punts for touchdowns this season. "The ability for him to make good plays on special teams should definitely increase his draft position," Miles said. For his career, Peterson played in 39 games, starting 30 times. He was credited with 135 tackles, 22 pass breakups and seven interceptions on defense. As a return specialist, he finished with 418 punt-return yards and two touchdowns to go with 932 kickoff-return yards. Peterson said he doesn't have an agent but expects to start interviewing them next week. He also said he will soon start training for the NFL Scouting Combine with the hope of running the 40-yard dash in 4.2 seconds. "My goal is to be the highest defensive player and the highest cornerback taken," Peterson said. "I have to go to this combine and perform well and hopefully I can be a No. 1 pick." Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: LSU CB Peterson believes time is now to try NFL draft
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01-11-2011
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| Illinois' Wilson will apply for NFL draft; Leshoure next?
 Many draft experts expected Martez Wilson to remain at Illinois for his senior season. (Seth Perlman/Associated Press)Wilson has decided to skip his senior season and has filed paperwork to enter the April NFL draft, Illinois sports information director Kent Brown confirmed Monday. Leshoure, the talented junior running back, said Monday he'll announce Tuesday morning whether or not he'll stick around for his senior season. The news release announcing the news conference at his old high school, Centennial in Champaign, didn't indicate how he's leaning. Wilson said in a printed statement Monday that he decided to leave because he has reached one of his key goals -- winning a bowl game -- and in May is expected to reach another, getting a college degree. "After weighing all my options, I've decided it was time to pursue my next goal and take my game to the next level," Wilson said. Illinois head coach Ron Zook, who recruited Wilson from Chicago Simeon High School, wished him well. "I know the NFL has been Martez's goal and dream for many years, and I'm very proud and happy he'll have the opportunity to make that a reality," Zook said in the same release. Leshoure didn't respond to a telephone message from The Associated Press. Leshoure had 1,697 rushing yards and 17 rushing touchdowns in 2010, breaking Rashard Mendenhall's Illinois single-season record for rushing yards. Mendenhall was the last Illini back to leave school early, passing up his senior season and getting drafted in 2008's first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Wilson led Illinois with 112 tackles this season. He also had four sacks and an interception in the kind of season that Illinois has been waiting for since he came to Champaign in 2007. Wilson chose Illinois over Ohio State, Notre Dame and other schools. But he struggled to live up to that promise until the 2010 season, partly because of injuries. The 6-4, 250-pound Wilson sat out most of the 2009 season after having surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. He also was stabbed before that season while reportedly helping a former teammate during a fight outside a bar. Defensive lineman Corey Liuget hasn't decided whether or not to return for his senior season, Brown said. Liuget is a 6-3, 300-pound tackle from Miami. He had 63 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2010 and won regular praise from opposing coaches for his ability to disrupt an offense. The draft is April 28-30. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Illinois' Wilson will apply for NFL draft; Leshoure next?
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01-11-2011
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| Lewis, Baldwin, Hynoski leaving Pitt for NFL draft
The departures are a setback for a program that had a disappointing 8-5 record this season and is about to hire its third coach in a month, following the ouster of Dave Wannstedt and the firing of Mike Haywood. Baldwin, a junior, is a two-time All-Big East Conference player who made 53 catches for 822 yards and five touchdowns this season. Lewis ran for a Pitt freshman-record 1,799 yards in 2009, breaking Tony Dorsett's record, and was chosen as a second-team All-American. His yardage slipped to 1,061 this season. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Lewis, Baldwin, Hynoski leaving Pitt for NFL draft
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01-11-2011
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| Georgia WR Green says he intends to leave school, try NFL
 A.J. Green caught 166 passes for 2,619 yards and 23 touchdowns in his three seasons at Georgia. (John Bazemore/Associated Press)Georgia's star receiver said Sunday that he plans to give up his senior season to apply for the 2011 NFL Draft. "The last couple of weeks were pretty hectic," Green said in a teleconference from his home in South Carolina. "I was just trying to make a sound decision for my family and I. It just came down to what was best for me and them." Green's junior season didn't start off well, with him serving a four-game suspension as NCAA-imposed punishment for selling a bowl jersey for $1,000 to someone deemed an agent. And Green insisted that he wrestled with the decision to try the NFL or return to Georgia for one more year. "Oh man, this was one toughest decisions I've made," he said. "Just leaving the brotherhood I have made at Georgia, the staff and all my coaches. They've prepared me for the real world. I'm really going to miss that. But I feel like they've prepared me for the real world, to be a man." Green, who's 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, has just about everything needed in a top receiver: size, leaping ability and deceptive speed. But he stands apart because of his intuitive skills when the ball's in the air, a knack of maneuvering his body into just the right position to make the catch, no matter how many defenders are trying to stand in his way. Green always seems to make the reception when the ball's at its highest point, giving him a distinct advantage against mostly shorter cornerbacks. Green said he's ready to take those skills to the NFL. One of his former quarterbacks, Matthew Stafford, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Detroit Lions in 2009 after passing on his senior season with the Bulldogs. "This is a great opportunity for me," said Green, who talked with Stafford before making his decision. "This is a long-term thing, something I've been thinking about since I was a little boy. I feel my skills are up to par to make the next jump. I feel I have proved myself as one of the best receivers in college football from Day 1. I believe I can easily make that next step to the NFL and do the same." Not that he doesn't have some work to do. "I have to improve my game a lot," Green said. "I have to get a little bigger, a little faster, and I have to get a little smarter. But I'm up for the challenge." Green said he didn't worry about the NFL's labor unrest and the possibility of a rookie salary cap -- "if I had really thought about that, I probably would've stayed in school" -- but he's certainly aware of the team that has the top pick in the draft: the Carolina Panthers. That wouldn't be too far from home. "I'm pretty sure a bunch of my family and friends could make that trip easily," he said. Green had 166 catches for 2,619 yards and 23 touchdowns during his three-year career at Georgia. Even missing four games this past season, he led the Bulldogs with 57 catches for 848 yards and nine touchdowns. Still, Green's career ends without the Bulldogs coming close to a championship. This past season, Georgia went 6-7 -- its first losing season since 1996. "It hurts," said Green, adding that a title "is what I came here for. But things happen for a reason. I'll keep working, and I'll be a Bulldog for life. I'll miss the guys and the coaches." Green said he needs just two semesters of school to earn his degree and intends to finish his academic work even as he prepares for the NFL. "A.J. has made an immeasurable impact on our team over the past three seasons and we wish him nothing but the best," Georgia coach Mark Richt said in a statement. "I've enjoyed the blessing of working with him and getting to know his family, and we wish him all the success in professional football. Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog." Georgia is still waiting for a decision from outside linebacker Justin Houston, a second-team All-American who had 10 sacks, 18.5 tackles for losses and excelled in a 3-4 scheme installed by new coordinator Todd Grantham. Offensive lineman Trinton Sturdivant said Friday that he plans to return for his senior season. He started as a true freshman in 2007 and was regarded as Georgia's rising star on the offensive line before he missed the 2008 and 2009 seasons with knee injuries. Sturdivant returned to win a starting job in the second half of the 2010 season, but he said he believes he can improve his draft status by playing another year of college. Green is done. "You never know with the draft, but it's going to be a fun process," he said. "I'm going to work to get as high as I can." Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Georgia WR Green says he intends to leave school, try NFL
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01-14-2011
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| Utah DT Siligi declares intent to enter NFL draft
SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah defensive tackle Sealver Siligi will bypass his senior season and apply for the NFL draft. The school announced the decision Wednesday when it released a statement from Siligi. Siligi, from West Jordan, Utah, said he believed the timing was right for him both mentally and physically. The 6-3, 305-pound junior had 41 tackles and two sacks for the Utes in 2010. He earned honorable mention honors in the Mountain West Conference. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Utah DT Siligi declares intent to enter NFL draft
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01-14-2011
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| Georgia Tech OT Claytor announces draft intent
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound lineman said Wednesday he will bypass his senior season. He has played in 35 career games with 15 career starts, including 10 starts on an offense that led the nation in rushing in 2010. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Georgia Tech OT Claytor announces draft intent
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01-14-2011
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| LSU junior RB Ridley says he will apply for NFL draft
 Watch NFL Playoff games online and in HD with NFL Game Rewind. Sign up now to get full access to the Postseason archives. LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette said head coach Les Miles and running backs coach Frank Wilson hoped to meet with Ridley and his mother in their hometown of Natchez, Miss., to find out if there's anything they can do to bring the running back back to the Tigers. The 6-foot, 223-pound junior spent his first full season as a starter in 2010, rushing for 1,147 yards and 15 touchdowns. He ran for 105 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown, in LSU's 41-24 victory over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. Ridley announced his decision Thursday with an Internet video posted on his Facebook page. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: LSU junior RB Ridley says he will apply for NFL draft
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01-14-2011
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| Kentucky WR Cobb to skip senior season, try NFL draft
The junior first-team All-American announced Thursday that he will bypass his senior season and apply for the NFL draft. "I felt that it was my time to go and pursue my dream to play in the NFL," Cobb said. "I've had this dream since I was a child. I can remember when I was four years old and I was laying in bed. That was the only thing I wanted, to play football in the NFL." Watch NFL Playoff games online and in HD with NFL Game Rewind. Sign up now to get full access to the Postseason archives. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Cobb led Kentucky with 955 yards receiving, 401 yards rushing and 12 combined touchdowns this past season. He also threw for three scores and returned a punt for a touchdown. Cobb was selected an All-American as an all-purpose player by The Associated Press last month. Cobb said he considered the NFL's ongoing labor dispute while making his decision. "It could hurt me," Cobb said. "That's just me stepping out on my faith and hoping things go right." Cobb finished his career by accounting for 204 total yards in a 27-10 loss to Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl last Saturday as Kentucky finished 6-7. Cobb said he has enjoyed "every last second" of his career at Kentucky but had to make the best decision for his future. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Kentucky WR Cobb to skip senior season, try NFL draft
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01-14-2011
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| Auburn QB Newton to skip senior season, apply for NFL draft
 Auburn QB Cam Newton won the Heisman Trophy and the BCS national title in his junior season. Next up? Applying for the NFL draft. (Matthew Emmons/US Presswire/)Auburn released a statement Thursday night announcing the quarterback's decision following his lone year as a major college starter. Newton led the Tigers to their first national title since 1957 and a 14-0 season with a 22-19 victory over Oregon on Monday night. "This decision was difficult for me and my family," Newton said, adding that he made it after talking to coach Gene Chizik and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn. "It's been a blessing for me to be a part of something so great," Newton added. "Any time you win games it's a big deal, but for this school to win a BCS national championship, what a way to make people happy. Auburn is a special place that I can call home." Newton, a former backup to Tim Tebow at the University of Florida, arrived at Auburn after leading Blinn College in Texas to a junior college national championship. He won on a much bigger stage with the Tigers. The national champions are waiting on Lombardi Award-winning defensive tackle Nick Fairley to announce his NFL decision Friday in his hometown of Mobile. "We appreciate Cameron's many contributions to Auburn and the outstanding leader that he was for our football team," Chizik said. "He had one of the greatest individual seasons ever by an Auburn player and was a key part of our championship run. Cam will always be a member of the Auburn family, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors." Newton, a College Park, Ga., native, was chosen the Walter Camp and Associated Press National Player of the Year. Newton also won the Maxwell Award as the nation's top player and the Davey O'Brien Award as the best quarterback. The dual-threat quarterback brought joy to Auburn, but some troubles also came along with him. He played under a cloud the last two months of the season after reports surfaced that his father, Cecil, shopped his services during Mississippi State's recruitment of his son. All that came of it so far is that Auburn declared Newton ineligible the week of the Southeastern Conference Championship Game against South Carolina, and the NCAA reinstated him one day later. The NCAA said it hasn't closed the case, but it had no evidence at the time that Cam Newton knew about his father's solicitation. The case might prompt a new addition -- call it "Newton's Law" -- in the NCAA rule book. It was prominent and polarizing enough that NCAA president Mark Emmert, speaking at the governing body's annual convention Thursday, called for new rules ensuring that parents can't "sell the athletic services" of their children. "If you look at the Newton case, a lot of people came away from that, because it's a complicated case, saying, 'Gosh, it's OK for a father to solicit money for the services for his son or daughter?'" Emmert told reporters afterward. "The answer to that is no, it isn't. But we don't have a rule that makes that clear." On the field, Newton rushed for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns and passed for 2,854 yards and 30 TDs. He set Auburn season records for both rushing and passing TDs and total offense and an SEC mark for yards on the ground by a quarterback. Newton injured his back during the BCS national championship game, but he still passed for 265 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another 64. Newton was good enough to prompt South Carolina coach and 1966 Heisman winner Steve Spurrier to marvel: "You can't tackle him. He's almost a one-man show." Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Auburn QB Newton to skip senior season, apply for NFL draft
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01-14-2011
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| Auburn DT Fairley intends to apply for NFL draft
The potential No. 1 overall draft pick announced his decision Friday at his old high school in Mobile. He says he didn't make up his mind until a few hours earlier. Fairley says there wasn't much left for him to accomplish at Auburn after helping lead the Tigers to a national championship. Fairley was the defensive MVP in the BCS title game against Oregon. He had a sack, three tackles for a loss and a forced fumble. He also led the Southeastern Conference with 24 tackles for a loss and had a school-record 11.5 sacks. Fairley played two seasons at Auburn after transferring from junior college. Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press NFL.com news: Auburn DT Fairley intends to apply for NFL draft
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