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Topic: Mike Williams enters the 2004 NFL Draft! (Read 221 times) |
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Tony_O
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Mike Williams enters the 2004 NFL Draft!
« on: Feb 25th, 2004, 3:57pm » |
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Wednesday, February 25, 2004
ESPN.com news services
LOS ANGELES -- Southern California sophomore receiver Mike Williams will enter the NFL draft, the first player to take advantage of the court ruling in the Maurice Clarett case.
"Mike made his decision that he wants to go to the NFL," USC coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday. "We're disappointed that we're losing him because he's had a terrific two years for us. ... But we're anxious to watch him in the NFL."
Several sources told ESPN.com last week that Williams, who is expected to join receivers Larry Fitzgerald of Pittsburgh and Roy Williams of Texas as a first-round pick, had decided to forego his remaining two seasons of college eligibility. He had 1,226 receiving yards and 16 touchdown receptions last season.
"He'll be a high pick. There's no question about it," said Gil Brandt, the NFL's chief scouting consultant.
Williams, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound wide receiver, indicated after USC beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl that he planned to remain in school. The Trojans were The Associated Press national champions.
"Our team is well-prepared to handle Mike's leaving," Carroll said. "Last year we lost the Heisman Trophy winner (Carson Palmer) and one of the best defensive players in the country (Troy Polamalu) and still won."
Clarett, a star Ohio State running back, went to court to challenge an NFL rule preventing players less than three years out of high school from entering the draft. Williams, 20, is actually 3½ months younger than Clarett.
The NFL is appealing the Clarett decision but, because of the ruling, the league re-opened its draft deadline and players now have until March 1 to petition for early entry into the 2004 lottery April 24-25.
Because he is not yet three years removed from his high school class graduation date, Williams would not have been eligible under the NFL's former rules. Williams said after the Clarett ruling that he had no intention of leaving the Trojans, the defending co-national champions.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report
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UFF Primetime Prophet
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Pay, I said pay attention, son.
 
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Re: Mike Williams enters the 2004 NFL Draft!
« Reply #2 on: Feb 25th, 2004, 4:58pm » |
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There will probably be at least 5 WRs drafted in round one alone (Fitzgerald, the three Williamses, and Woods). There is also the possibility that Michael Clayton, Michael Jenkins, and Lee Evans could be first rounders.
This is clearly the best WR draft I've seen (and there have been some good ones lately).
Then you get to the second tier (Wilford, Henderson, Darling, Colbert, Newson, Berrian, Cotchery) and there are still some NFL starters in that bunch.
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