Louisville’s Jackson NFL-bound
Quarterback Lamar Jackson is leaving Louisville with one year of eligibility remaining to enter the NFL draft, one season after becoming the youngest Heisman Trophy winner.
Jackson, 20, tweeted Friday that he talked with his family before announcing the decision, which was confirmed by the school.
Jackson thanked Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino, teammates and fans on Twitter. “It has been nothing short of an honor to be a member of #Cards Nation and to play for this university.”
Jackson passed for 3,660 yards and 27 touchdowns and ran for 1,601 yards and 18 TDs this season. As a sophomore in 2016, he won the Heisman after throwing for 3,543 yards and running for 1,571.
“My time in Louisville has produced some of the best memories of my life,” Jackson tweeted.
Jones leaving USC: Ronald Jones II, who rushed for 1,550 yards and 19 TDs this season, will skip his senior season at USC to enter the NFL draft.
Jones ranks fifth in school history with 3,619 yards rushing. He compiled 14 100-yard rushing games, and he had two 1,000-yard seasons following a 987-yard performance as a freshman.
NFL plans: Two Iowa players, cornerback Josh Jackson and center James Daniels, intend to declare for the NFL draft, the school said in a release. Jackson, a first-team All-American, led the nation with eight interceptions and 26 passes defended. Daniels started 25 games in three seasons at Iowa . ... Wake Forest defensive back Jessie Bates III says he will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. He had 77 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble as a redshirt sophomore this season.
Briefly: Iowa quarterback Tyler Wiegers, who backed up sophomore Nate Stanley this season, is transferring to Eastern Michigan. As a graduate transfer, he will be eligible to play next season . ... Joe Moglia, who took a medical leave of absence in July because of a lung condition, has resumed his duties as Coastal Carolina’s head coach. Moglia, 68, said he’s in excellent health and expects to coach several more years. He has a 51-15 record in five seasons as Coastal’s coach.