North Carolina tight end Eric Ebron -- one of eight semifinalists for the Mackey Award -- will forego his senior season and enter the NFL Draft, coach Larry Fedora announced on Monday.
In 11 games this season, Ebron has 50 catches for 774 yards and three touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Ebron is ranked No. 14 on Scouts INC’s top 32, and is projected by most mock drafts to be a first-round pick next spring.
“I’ve had a great time in Chapel Hill and I appreciate everything Coach Fedora and the coaching staff has done for me,” Ebron said in a statement released by the team. “Coming to Carolina allowed me to develop as both a person and a football player. It was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I look forward to finishing the season with my teammates and then moving on to the next level.”
Over his three years in Chapel Hill, Ebron has 100 receptions for 1,606 yards and eight touchdowns. He’ll participate in senior day ceremonies for Saturday’s game against Duke, which has massive ACC implications. A win for Duke puts them in the ACC Championship against Florida State; a loss and all hell breaks loose.