San Jose State star linebacker Ginda to enter NFL draft
National leader in tackles to forgo his senior season
San Jose State junior linebacker Frank Ginda has decided to cash in on his record-breaking season.
In a tweet sent Friday morning, Ginda thanked the university and team before announcing his intentions to enter the NFL draft this spring.
“All the blood, sweat and tears I put into this has been for this goal,” Ginda wrote. “I have decided to forego my senior season and enter the 2018 NFL Draft. I will forever Bleed Blue and Gold!”
Ginda, 6-foot-1 and 245 pounds, led the nation in tackles this season with 173, an average of 13.3 per game. The 173 tackles are a Mountain West record and rank eighth in FBS history. Ginda was a first team All-Mountain West selection.
In three seasons with the Spartans, Ginda had 351 tackles, 29 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks. Scouts project Ginda as a third-day pick, going as high as late in the fourth round.
Ginda’s departure will be a tough one for Spartans coach Brent Brennan. Having already lost senior defensive backs Andre Chachere, Maurice McKnight and Jermaine Kelly, Ginda was expected to serve as leader of a young San Jose State defense.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
WYMONG 37, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 14 >> When Cowboys junior quarterback Josh Allen stepped onto the stage to accept his MVP trophy following a victory over the Chippewas in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, it didn’t take long for the chant to begin.
“Do it! Do it!” Wyoming players shouted in unison as snow began to fall on the field.
Surrounded by teammates and a throng of Wyoming fans, Allen couldn’t resist the moment and hoisted the trophy over his head before declaring his intentions to skip his senior season to enter the NFL draft.
“I was hoping to spend at least a day or two thinking about it,” Allen said, “but I think my teammates knew, and they were chanting for me to do it. This was the idea the whole time, to come back and trust what Coach (Craig) Bohl was doing and learn more on the offensive side of the football. It wasn’t pre-planned before the season started, but we had a pretty good idea of what we were going to do.”
Allen missed the final two regular-season games with a sprained right shoulder, resulting in a pair of close losses. In warmups, he looked anxious to return to the field and didn’t disappoint the Wyoming contingent on hand for his final collegiate game.
“Sitting out for those two games killed me inside,” Allen said. “I wanted to be back on the field with my teammates and brothers.”
Allen completed 11 of 19 passed for 154 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. He didn’t have to do much thanks to Wyoming’s suffocating defense. But when the Cowboys needed Allen, he produced.
Allen’s first touchdown pass to open the scoring was a 23-yard bullet to Jared Scott. But the potential top 10 draft pick showed off the arm strength and accuracy with a 45-yard strike that hit C.J. Johnson in stride in the end zone.
Bahamas Bowl
OHIO 41, UAB 6 >> Ohio coach Frank Solich knew his Bobcats were better than their record showed. You’ll get no argument from Alabama-Birmingham.
Dorian Brown rushed for 152 yards on just 12 carries and scored four TDs, Nathan Rourke threw for two scores and the Bobcats beat the Blazers.
It was a stirring comeback for the Bobcats, who lost their last two games of the regular season to miss a shot at the Mid-American Conference title.
Tax-Slayer Bowl
DB ALEXANDER ENTERIING DRAFT >> Cardinals junior cornerback Jaire Alexander has told coach Bobby Petrino he will enter the NFL draft and will not play against Mississippi State in the Dec. 30 bowl. Injuries limited Alexander to six games this season, though he returned down the stretch and finished with 19 tackles and an interception.
Texas Bowl
LONGHORNS SUSPENSIONS >> Texas (6-6) has suspended three players for Wednesday’s game against Missouri (7-5), the latest challenge in an up-and-down season for first-year coach Tom Herman. Sophomore receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, freshman running back Toneil Carter and junior tight end Garrett Gray were benched for an unspecified violation of team rules.
The Longhorns (6-6) are in danger of suffering their fourth straight losing season.
Florida
EX-BUCKEYE NEW GATOR >> Former Ohio State receiver Trevon Grimes has enrolled at Florida.
Grimes gives new coach Dan Mullen a lanky receiver to help rebuild Florida’s lackluster offense.