Njoku leaving, Kaaya not sure
ORLANDO — David Njoku is the latest Hurricanes tight end headed to the NFL.
Brad Kaaya isn’t sure if he’ll join him.
Njoku, a redshirt sophomore, told reporters after Miami’s 31-14 win in the Russell Athletic Bowl over No. 16 West Virginia that he will forgo his final two seasons of college eligibility and enter the draft.
“It’s kind of bittersweet, leaving my team a couple years early, but I feel like it’s what’s best for me and my family,” he said, adding that coach Mark Richt “wished me the best.”
K a ay a , t h e j u n i o r q u a r - terback who now stands as Miami’s career leader in yards (9,968), completions (720) and attempts (1,188), said he still has some “soul-searching to do” and will decide his future in the coming days.
“I’m not really leaning a certain way right now,” said Kaaya, who is also third at UM in touchdowns. “I’ve got some soul-searching to do.”
Hurric anes fans chanted “one more year ” as Kaaya accepted the MVP award for the game, but plans to talk to a list of confidants that includes his coaches, current teammates, former teammates, mentors and family. He said UM is “headed to greatness” with or without him, but added that “it’s every kid’s dream” to chase — and win — a national title.
Miami (9-4) returns a loaded defense and several major pieces on offense. Njoku said that made his decision tough.
However, Njoku said hi s coaches told him he had the potential to be drafted in the first two rounds.
He would join Greg Olsen (Carolina), Jimmy Graham (Seattle), Clive Walford (Oakland) and Erik Swoope (Indianapolis) as former Miami tight ends in the league.
“Nothing’s going to happen unless I work,” he said. “I’ve got to get working.”
A 6-foot-4, 245-pound former high school national champion high-jumper, he caught 43 passes for 608 yards and 8 touchdowns in his final season.
In his last game at UM, he caught 5 passes for 44 yards and a touchdown, which made it 28-7 early in the third quarter. He said he “was thinking about it a lot” going into his final game and made his decision beforehand.
Noteworthy: Senior wide receiver Malcolm Lewis’ touchdown catch, which made it 14-7 with 2:11 left in the first half, was his first since 2014 and third of his career. It was a feel-good moment for Lewis, a Miramar native who has struggled with injuries. ... The Hurricanes’ nine tackles for losses gave them 108, their highest total since a nation-best 115 in 2010. Miami’s four sacks gave them 37, their highest total since recording 37 in 2010.