USC defensive end Leonard Williams said Monday he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.
The two-time All-American is a projected top-five pick. He said in a statement it was "a very hard decision" to leave USC.
"I love USC, (coach Steve Sarkisian) and the coaching staff, my teammates and the fans, and I love the game of college football," he said. "It's hard to leave all of that. I know life is never the same once you leave college.
"But I feel like it's the right time for me to go. I feel like I'm ready. I'm looking forward to the new challenge that the NFL presents."
Williams, 20, is listed at 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds. He had 80 tackles and seven sacks in 13 games this season, including nine stops and one sack in Saturday's 45-42 win over Nebraska in the Holiday Bowl.
[SportsNetwork.com]
