Pitt wide receiver and Heisman Trophy candidate Larry Fitzgerald was declared eligible for the… Pitt wide receiver and Heisman Trophy candidate Larry Fitzgerald was declared eligible for the 2004 NFL Draft Thursday, according to ESPN.com.

The announcement came on the same day that a federal judge ruled that suspended Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett could also enter the draft. Under NFL rules, a player is eligible to enter the NFL only after three years have passed since a player’s high school class has graduated.

Fitzgerald was declared eligible by the NFL due to the fact that his last year of high school would have actually been at his high school in Minnesota in 2001. Except midway through his senior year in 2001, Fitzgerald transferred to Valley Forge (Pa.) Military Academy in order to boost his grades.

After one and a half semesters at Valley Forge, Fitzgerald signed with, Pitt where he played two seasons and set two NCAA records. Those records were 18 consecutive games with a touchdown reception and 34 receiving touchdowns during his freshman and sophomore years.