Already this month, three members of the Miami Hurricanes football program have officially announced they were leaving eligibility on the table for a shot at the NFL.
Officially, that number climbed to five Friday morning as The U confirmed that offensive lineman Brandon Washington and defensive end Olivier Vernon (pictured, No. 35) have decided to make themselves available for the April draft.
As noted by Steve Gorten of the South Florida Sun Sentinel, this move comes three weeks or so after Washington stated he would be returning in 2012 “because I see the change in the program, I see the change in the kids and I see how everybody’s buying in.”
Washington started all 12 games at left tackle for the Hurricanes this season after starting all 13 in 2011. Vernon was suspended for the first six games of the season for his part in the Nevin Shapiro imbroglio, but ultimately started three of the six games in which he played in the second half of the season.
In addition to Washington and Vernon, The U has also lost running back Lamar Miller, wide receiver Tommy Streeter and defensive lineman Marcus Forston to early-entry into next April’s draft.
And, for all of the underclassmen declarations, visit our tracker HERE.