Eben Britton, the Arizona Wildcats' star offensive tackle, will forgo his senior season and declare for the upcoming NFL draft.
Britton told the Arizona Daily Star late Friday that he wanted to pursue his dream of going pro.
"It's right in front of me, and I wanted to take it," Britton said. "The past couple weeks I've been talking it over and discussing it with my parents. It's the feeling in my heart. I'm ready for the next challenge."
Britton, 21, has signed with super-agent Tom Condon. He will relocate to Tempe next week and enroll at Athletes' Performance, a popular pre-draft training institute. He will stay there until the NFL draft combine, which takes place Feb. 18-24 in Indianapolis.
Britton said he will continue to take UA classes online. He is about a semester away from graduating.
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NFL analysts view Britton, a 6-foot-6-inch, 310-pounder from Burbank, Calif., as one of the top available tackles in this year's draft. Scouts Inc., the evaluation service used by ESPN, ranks Britton as the 41st-best available player and sixth-best tackle.
Britton started 37 consecutive games at tackle from 2006 to 2008, the last 13 coming on the left side of the line. Britton earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors this past season as a junior.
Reached Friday, UA coach Mike Stoops called Britton — a team captain — "the glue behind our offensive line."
"He's been the leader of his group the last two years," Stoops said. "He has a chance to be a great player. I'm going to support Eben in everything he does."
Stoops said he talked to Britton about the draft before last month's Las Vegas Bowl and continued to be in touch over the holidays.
"I knew this was a possibility," Stoops said.
Britton praised Arizona's fans — "the absolute best" — and praised Stoops, offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh and strength coach Corey Edmond for developing him as an athlete and a person.
The last UA player to leave school early was running back Chris Henry, who was taken 50th overall in the 2007 draft.
"I don't really like to say I'm leaving early. That makes it seem like I'm not ready," Britton said.
This year's draft takes place April 25-26 in New York City.
Hall to play in All-American Bowl
Adam Hall is ready for his close-up.
The Palo Verde High School star will take part in today's U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, a nationally televised showcase that features the nation's top high school players. Hall will start at wide receiver for the West team.
"This game is broadcast worldwide. I've never been on national TV before. I don't think I've ever played in front of 35,000 people before," Hall said Friday. "Getting a chance to start at wide receiver, it's a great thing."
Hall rushed for 837 yards and 24 touchdowns and caught 33 passes for 660 yards and six touchdowns as a senior, and was named the Star's Southern Arizona Player of the Year.
Hall said he is still considering five colleges: Arizona, Cal, Oregon, Oregon State and USC.
