DREW WILL HEAD TO NFL UCLA STAR TAILBACK TO EXPLAIN REASONS TODAY.Byline: Jill Painter Staff Writer Maurice Drew wasn't the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. running back everyone figured was a shoo-in to leave college a year early for the NFL draft The NFL Draft (officially the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting[1]) is an annual sports draft in which National Football League (NFL) teams take turns, through seven rounds[2] . But that's exactly what Drew will do. UCLA's junior tailback and All-American punt returner Punt returner (PR) is a position on special teams in American football. Description The role of a punt returner is to catch the ball after it is punted and to give his team good field position (or a touchdown if possible) by returning it. will announce his decision to skip his senior season and enter the draft at a 2 p.m. press conference today at Concord De La Salle High School De La Salle High School is the name of several educational institutions affiliated with the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, also known as the Lasallian Brothers, a Roman Catholic religious teaching order founded by French Priest Saint Jean-Baptiste de la Salle: in Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern , where Drew once played. Drew confirmed Friday that he won't return to UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX . ``Yeah, you can say that,'' Drew said. ``I'll make that announcement (today) but yeah, you can say that.'' Drew's mother, Andrea, confirmed her son was leaving and that he will explain his reasons today. ``He just made the decision,'' Andrea Drew said. ``He'll say why and what played a part in it (today).'' Andrea Drew said she filed paperwork earlier to have her son's NFL draft status evaluated. If Drew doesn't sign with an agent, he can return to UCLA for his final season of eligibility. Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to declare for the NFL draft. UCLA coach Karl Dorrell Karl Dorrell (born December 18, 1963 in Alameda, California) is the first black head coach in the history of the UCLA Bruins college football team, a position he took on December 18, 2002. isn't expected to comment until after today's press conference. Drew's departure is a huge blow to the Bruins, who finished 10-2 and beat Northwestern in the Sun Bowl. Drew led the country in punt returns, averaging an NCAA-record 28.5 yards. He had three punt returns for touchdowns this season and four in his career, along with two kickoff returns for scores. He rushed for 914 yards on 186 carries (a 4.9 average per carry) and scored 13 touchdowns this season. Drew ran for 2,503 yards and 26 touchdowns in his UCLA career. Drew's pro career could mimic that of Darren Sproles Darren Lee Sproles (born June 20, 1983 in Waterloo, Iowa) is an American football running back and return specialist for the San Diego Chargers. Early years Darren Sproles attended Olathe North High School in Olathe, Kansas and was a star in football. , who was drafted by the San Diego Chargers
It's likely that Drew's role in the NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga will be as a punt and kickoff returner In American and Canadian football, a kick returner (KR) is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. . Drew probably is considered too small (5-foot-8, 205 pounds) to be an every-down back, although he is bigger than the 5-6, 181-pound Sproles. This was an unexpected move, since Drew, 21, maintained most of the year that he would return for his senior season. As late as Nov. 26, he told the Daily News: ``I don't understand why people keep asking. I don't want people to think football is my whole life. That's one thing I don't want it to be. If it happens, it happens. If not, I'll get a degree and go about my day and try to work at a big-time business and try to get to the top of it.'' Drew's durability has been an issue the last two years. He suffered a bruised right knee against Stanford, which forced him to miss some of the Arizona game. Last season, he sprained his ankle and missed the better part of three games. If Drew is viewed as a Sproles-type player, he stands to make about $2 million. Sproles was a fourth-round draft pick and earned a $396,000 signing bonus. He signed a four-year deal worth $230,000 the first year and $460,000 in 2008. Sproles returned 59 kickoffs for an average of 24.4 yards per return this season for the Chargers. Drew exhibited no signs of turning pro until after the Sun Bowl. Drew left that game in the first quarter with a separated left shoulder and returned for a couple of plays in the second quarter but was a non-factor. Television cameras showed him trying to run back onto the field at one point but Dorrell grabbed him and pulled him back. Drew didn't look happy. Drew's roommate, defensive end Kyle Morgan, will attend today's press conference. Morgan is also from the Bay Area. Jill Painter, (818) 713-3615 jill.painter(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- color) UCLA tailback Maurice Drew, left, rushed 914 yards and 13 touchdowns this season as the Bruins went 10-2. Robert Laberge/Getty Images (2) With concerns about his durability as a running back, Maurice Drew's main impact in the NFL could be as a kick returner. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer |
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