Fresh off of leading his team to its first-ever BCS bowl win, UCF quarterback Blake Bortles has decided to bypass his final season of eligibility and declare for the NFL draft, according to a report on Sunday from the Orlando Sentinel.
An official announcement is expected on Monday morning.
Bortles, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound junior, threw for 3,581 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions while also rushing for 272 yards and six scores. UCF finished 12-1, the best season in school history, and defeated No. 6 Baylor, 52-42 in the Fiesta Bowl.
It took this season for Bortles to gain the attention of most scouts, but he has the size, arm strength and mobility that the current NFL craves. He is projected to be among the top three quarterbacks selected in the draft.
It’s hard to turn down first-round money, so one can’t fault Bortles for making the jump.