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After suffering through 3-9 season, Maryland star heading for NFL
This season will certainly not go down as one to remember in Maryland Terrapins football lore.
The Terps finished the season 1-7 (and tied for last) in the Big 10 East Division, won just three games compared to nine losses overall, and played their final six games with an interim head coach after Randy Edsall was fired in October.
But defensive end Yannick Ngakoue had a season to remember . . . and now his collegiate career is nothing but a memory.
The 6-foot-2, 255-pound junior announced via Twitter on Monday he was passing on his senior season and declaring for the NFL Draft. The announcement comes just two days after Ngakoue completed a season in which he broke the school record for sacks in a season with 13.5, half a sack more than Bruce Palmer (1978) and Mark Duda (1982). And that was despite being held without a sack in the season-ending win over Rutgers on Saturday.
"While the last three years have been unforgettable and I would love nothing more to come back for another season," the statement read, "I have decided to forgo my final year of eligibility to pursue my lifelong dream of playing in the NFL to compete at the next level."
You can read the entire post, which was as much a thank you letter to the Maryland fans, players, coaches and community as it was an announcement, below and here.
Thank you Terpnation for the best 3 years of my life! FOREVER THANKFUL. #PATHTOTHEDRAFT #2016 #BLESSED pic.twitter.com/H22xX4l6f9
— Yannick ngakoue (@yan_d1prospect) November 30, 2015
Later on Monday, the school released its own statement praising Ngakoue.
"We are thrilled for Yannick and his family that he has made this decision to pursue his lifelong dream of playing in the NFL," interim head coach Mike Locksley said in the statement. "After speaking with Yannick and his family, he feels that he is prepared to take this step in his football career and we support his decision. We wish him well and look forward to seeing him compete at the highest level."
