Georgia Tech's two-time all-America Calvin Johnson will forgo his senior season and enter the National Football League draft, the junior wide receiver announced on Monday at a press conference on the Georgia Tech campus.
The 6-5, 235-pounder from Tyrone, Ga., is widely projected to be one of the top selections in this spring's draft if not the top pick in the whole draft. He is expected become the first Yellow Jacket selected in the first round since linebacker Keith Brooking was taken with the 12th pick in the 1998 draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
Johnson leaves Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets' career leader in receiving yards (2,927) and touchdown receptions (28). He also stands second in career receptions (178).
This season, he was a unanimous first-team all-America selection and the winner of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. He was also named Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year while earning first-team all-ACC honors for the third straight year.
Bet on all NFL Games here!Johnson was second in the nation with 15 touchdown catches while leading the ACC in receptions (76, 5.4 pg) and receiving yards (1,202, 85.9 pg). He set Tech season records for receiving yardage and touchdowns.
Get the latest college football point spreads here.
Johnson capped his remarkable three-year career with perhaps his best game against 12th-ranked West Virginia in the Toyota Gator Bowl with nine catches for a career-best 186 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
"When something like this happens, you get excited for the young man and his family.” Georgia Tech head coach Chan Gailey said. “He gave a lot to Georgia Tech, and Georgia Tech gave back to him. I'm excited about his future, where he's headed and what he's going to do. I hope this isn't the last time I get to say it, we know that he's a great player, but he's a better person than he is a player, and that bodes well for him the future."
Bet on the 2008 BCS National Championship at PinnacleSports.com
