Seminoles TE Ryan Izzo declares for 2018 NFL draft

Florida State tight end Ryan Izzo is declaring for the 2018 NFL draft, the school announced on Wednesday.

Izzo, a redshirt junior who was ranked as a Top 5 tight end prospect by ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay, finishes his FSU career with 54 catches for 1,012 yards with six touchdowns. He had 20 receptions for 317 yards with 3 touchdowns this season for the Seminoles.

“After lots of thought and careful consideration, I have decided to forgo my senior season and chase my dream of playing in the NFL,” Izzo said in a statement released by the school.

Now, the Seminoles will turn to several inexperienced options at the tight end position under new coach Willie Taggart. True freshman Tre’ McKitty (6-5, 237) played in 12 games this season with just one reception, while sophomore Naseir ‘Pop’ Upshur (6-2, 243) played in 13 games this season. Both players saw action exclusively on special teams this season. True freshman Alexander Marshall (6-8, 233) will likely redshirt after suffering a hand injury earlier this season.

Mullen adds to staff

Dan Mullen continued to fill out his staff by hiring Greg Knox and Sal Sunseri — two veteran coaches with extensive SEC experience.

Knox coached the past nine seasons under Mullen at Mississippi State.

Knox, 54, coached running backs at Mississippi State and was the special teams coordinator. Knox has more than 20 years of combined SEC coaching experience at Ole Miss, Auburn and Mississippi State.

A consensus All-America linebacker as a senior at Pittsburgh in 1981, Sunseri spent five seasons coaching in the SEC, including four under Nick Saban at LSU (2000) and Alabama (2009-11).

Sunseri, 58, also coached 10 seasons in the NFL, including the past three coaching defensive line with the Oakland Raiders.