Heisman winner Griffin to enter NFL draft

• Tweet

WACO, Texas, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor revealed Wednesday he will skip his senior year of college ball and turn pro.

Griffin, a fourth-year junior, made the announcement that he will enter the the April 26 NFL draft at a Waco, Texas, news conference accompanied by Bears Coach Art Briles.

The fourth-year junior signal-caller wore Baylor colors while breaking the news he will leave the school whose football program he helped elevate into the national spotlight.

"It's a tough decision because I love the people at this university," Griffin said. "I love my coach for giving me the chance to be a quarterback and do the things that we've done.

Griffin, 22, set or tied 54 school marks in his collegiate career and led Baylor (10-3) to its best season since 1980. He tossed for 295 yards in pacing the Bears to a record-breaking 67-56 victory for over Washington in the Alamo Bowl Dec. 29.

Also declaring early for the draft was Georgia junior tight end Orson Charles.

Charles made 45 grabs for 574 yards and five touchdowns this past season and is the Bulldogs' all-time leader in receiving yards (1,370) for a tight end.