Top Pac-12 QBs Rosen, Darnold to enter NFL draft
Within 30 minutes of one another, UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen and USC quarterback Sam Darnold announced they will enter the NFL draft.
The Los Angeles rivals have a chance to be the first two quarterbacks taken and possibly among the first few players off the board in April.
Joining Rosen and Darnold in announcing NFL intentions Wednesday was Stanford tight end Dalton Schultz among others.
Rosen’s decision was no surprise. He has started for UCLA since his freshman season and passed for 9,301 yards with 59 touchdown passes and 26 interceptions in his college career, but the Bruins never even so much as won a bowl game during his time there.
He was close to fired UCLA coach Jim Mora, but Rosen said he discussed his decision with new Bruins coach Chip Kelly. After playing for three offensive coordinators in three seasons, he decided to move one.
As did UCLA receiver Jordan Lasley later in the day.
There was more uncertainty about Darnold.
A third-year sophomore this season, Darnold took over as the Trojans’ starting quarterback four games into last season. He won the Rose Bowl in his first season with a record 453-yard, five-touchdown performance against Penn State, and he led the Trojans to their first Pac-12 title since 2008 this season.
He passed for 7,229 yards with 57 touchdown passes and 22 interceptions in 27 games behind center for the Trojans.
Schultz said that he will cherish his memories from Stanford but wants to pursue his childhood dream of playing in the NFL.
Schultz was an AllPac-12 selection this season when he had 22 catches for 212 yards and three touchdowns. In three seasons for the Cardinal, Schultz had 55 catches for 555 yards and five TDs.
Oklahoma’s All-America offensive tackle Orlando Brown, another possible top-10 pick, also declared for the NFL draft.
Auburn cornerback Carlton Davis, linebacker Jeff Holland and tailback Kamryn Pettway announced they are skipping their senior seasons to enter the NFL draft, as did Washington State defensive tackle Hercules Mata’afa and Florida State tight end Ryan Izzo. CLAIM SEEKS $7.5M AGAINST RODRIGUEZ >> A claim filed by the former assistant to fired Arizona football coach Rich Rodriguez says he walked around the office in his underwear, fondled himself in front of her and forced her to cover up an extramarital affair he had with another woman.
The claim seeking $7.5 million in damages against Rodriguez was filed by an attorney for the former assistant and her husband and is a required precursor to a lawsuit against a government official.
Arizona fired Rodriguez on Tuesday. The university said it began an investigation in October after receiving a sexual harassment complaint against Rodriguez, but could not substantiate the woman’s claims because she declined to be interviewed by the school. JENNINGS OUT FOR TIDE >> Alabama starting linebacker Anfernee Jennings said he will miss Monday’s College Football Playoff championship game against Georgia with a left knee injury sustained in the semifinals. Crimson Tide linebackers Shaun Dion Hamilton and Dylan Moses are also out for the game with injuries. Outside linebackers Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis returned from injuries that sidelined them for much of the season.