The exodus of underclassmen to the NFL continues.
This time it’s USC junior tight end Xavier Grimble, who told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday night that he has decided to declare for the NFL draft.
“I’ve been at ‘SC for four years and have had a pretty productive career,” Grimble told The Times in a phone interview Tuesday night. “I’m healthy and just want to move on and give it a shot…. I feel like it was kind of my time.”
Grimble is the fifth Trojan to declare early for the draft, joining wide out Marqise Lee, center Marcus Martin, safety Dion Bailey and defensive tackle George Uko.
The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder -- ranked the No. 1 prep tight end in the class of 2010 -- caught 69 passes and scored five touchdowns in his USC career, with 25 catches and two touchdowns coming this past season.
His departure leaves the Trojans with two scholarship tight ends, senior Randall Telfer and junior Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick, both of whom played a lot this past fall (when healthy). USC also has a verbal commitment from one of the top high school tight ends in the country, Bryce Dixon, of Ventura, Calif., so Grimble is leaving the Trojan tight end position in able hands.