Mitch Trubisky entered the 2016 season never having started a game at the collegiate level. The North Carolina junior exited the regular season projected as one of the first -- if not the first -- quarterbacks selected in the 2017 NFL draft should he decide to make himself available.
Whether Trubisky takes that early leap still remains to be seen.
As UNC continues preparations for its Dec. 28 Foster Farms Bowl matchup with Stanford, Trubisky was asked about his football future beyond this season. According to the player, he’s processing some of the information his head coach has received regarding his draft status, with that 411 indicating that he is, obviously, graded as a potential first-round pick.
That said, Trubisky, who is leaning toward an early leap to the NFL, won’t make a decision until some point after the Tar Heels’ bowl game.
“I’m not letting it take up too much of my time and not letting it stress me out that much,” Trubisky said according to the Associated Press. “I’m just trying to get as much information as possible and try to figure out what’s best for me, but at the same time, staying focused for the bowl game that we’ve got ahead. ...
“It may be leaving now, it may be coming back. So those are some of the things I’ve been thinking about: What’s going to put me in the best position to have a long-term sustainable career and be the best possible quarterback I could possibly be?”
All draft-eligible players have until Jan. 18 to officially declare their intentions.