McCoy declares for NFL draft

After days of speculation, Pitt sophomore running back LeSean McCoy said this afternoon that he… After days of speculation, Pitt sophomore running back LeSean McCoy said this afternoon that he will leave Pitt football and enter the NFL Draft this year. ‘Although I will be wearing a new jersey next season, I will forever be a Pitt Panther,’ he said, after thanking Pitt and head coach Dave Wannstedt for support. ‘One of my goals in coming here was to help my teammates and coaches bring Pitt back to its rightful place among the prominent teams in college football. ‘We made big strides in that journey, and I believe Coach Wannstedt, the coaching staff and my teammates will continue that upward climb next season and into the future.’ The announcement comes six days after news sources reported the McCoy would leave Pitt after two seasons.’ But McCoy, Pitt’s leading rusher and a first-team All-Big East selection the last two years, said in December that he planned to return for his junior year. ‘While he had said earlier he would be returning to Pitt, I think during the past two weeks he finally had an opportunity to reflect on his opportunities,’ said Wannstedt in a news release. ‘I know firsthand how enticing the NFL can be for young men, both financially and from the standpoint of realizing a lifelong dream of playing pro football.’ McCoy is expected to be a late first-round or early second-round pick in the April 25-26 selection. For more details, see tomorrow’s Pitt News.