UPDATED 1/11 @ 12:31 p.m. ET: Baylor confirmed in a press release that “Robert Griffin III and head coach Art Briles will address gathered media concerning the quarterback’s future Wednesday” at approximately 4 p.m. ET.
The announcement will be streamed live at the school’s official website HERE.
It’s believed RGIII will announce he is foregoing his final season of eligibility and make himself available for the NFL draft.
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Over the New Year’s weekend, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that Robert Griffin III was going to do the expected and leave Baylor for the NFL. While that report was subsequently denied by the school, the speculation persisted that the quarterback was not long for the Bears.
With less than a week until the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft, that’s reportedly exactly what the reigning Heisman winner will do.
Again according to Mortensen, Griffin is informing Baylor head coach Art Briles Tuesday that he is foregoing his final year of eligibility in order to enter the 2012 NFL draft. Mortensen cites a family source as the basis for his information.
An announcement is imminent, Mortensen writes, presumably meaning it could/should come as early as today. A Baylor official told CFT via email that an announcement on Griffin’s future “is expected before the end of the week.” The official declined to confirm Mortensen’s report, saying “it’s up to [the Griffin family] when his decision is announced.”
“I have spoken with Robert Griffin III this afternoon & he does NOT plan to make any announcements today,” Baylor assistant athletic director Heath Nielsen wrote on his Twitter account after Mortensen’s report surfaced today.
The deadline for underclassmen to officially make themselves available for the draft is Sunday.
If Griffin does indeed make the early move into the NFL, he’s projected to be selected within the first five picks of the April draft, perhaps as high as No. 2 behind Andrew Luck. In addition to the Heisman, Griffin was awarded the Davey O’Brien Trophy and named as the Big 12’s Offensive Player of the Year following the 2011 season.