A day after several standout underclassmen announced their intentions to declare for the NFL draft, two running backs who played in the Fiesta Bowl – Baylor’s Lache Seastrunk and UCF’s Storm Johnson -- will also forgo their final year of eligibility to play at the next level.
Seastrunk, a redshirt junior, told his intentions to Yahoo Sports’ Rand Getlin. The redshirt junior registered 158 carries for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns for the 11-2 Bears.
“Playing in the NFL has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I’m fully prepared to the next step toward realizing that goal,” Seastrunk said in a statement. “I’m excited for the opportunity to compete in the NFL draft process. I look forward to giving teams every ounce of energy I’ve got and proving to them that I’m a good person, a relentless competitor, and a great player too.”
According to Getlin’s report, the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Seastrunk is projected to be selected in the first three rounds.
Seastrunk started his career at the University of Oregon and redshirted as a freshman before transferring to Baylor in 2011.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that Johnson, also a redshirt junior, will announce his decision to declare for the draft along with quarterback Blake Bortles Monday afternoon.
Johnson transferred to UCF from Miami in 2011 and became the Knights’ feature back this year after serving as a backup in 2012. Johnson ran for 507 yards and four touchdowns in his sophomore year and broke out this year with 1,139 yards and 14 touchdowns with a 5.3 yard rushing average.
The 6-foot, 215-pound Johnson was given a third-round grade by the NFL Draft Advisory Board, the Sentinel reported.
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