For the first time this year, San Diego State is on the receiving end of an early departure from the NFL.
SDSU head coach Rocky Long confirmed to the San Diego Union-Tribune that tight end Gavin Escobar has decided to forego his final season of eligibility and enter the 2013 NFL draft. Based on how his comments read, it doesn’t appear Long was in total lockstep with the decision.
“I never know if it’s a good or bad decision. I let the young man and his family decide,” Long told the paper. “I gave him my opinion and want him to make that decision.
“I told him we wanted him to come back, and the benefits of coming back, but families do a good job of deciding these things.”
Escobar led the Aztecs this season in receptions (42, receiving yards (543) and receiving touchdowns (six). For his career, the 6-6, 255-pounder totaled 122 catches for 1,646 yards and 17 touchdowns.
Escobar becomes the third player at his position to declare early for the draft, joining Florida’s Jordan Reed and Michigan State’s Dion Sims. All told, 41 underclassmen have officially announced their intention to leave eligibility on the table for a shot at the NFL.