Texas QB Young declares for NFL draft
AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) - Vince Young decided he had nothing left to prove on the collegiate level.
Young declared for the NFL draft on Sunday afternoon, four days after the quarterback led Texas to its first national championship in 35 seasons.
Young’s godmother, Yolande Levine, had told the Dallas Morning News that the qaurterback decided to turn pro after he and his mother, Felicia, met with Young’s pastor, Samuel H. Smith, in his hometown of Houston on Sunday morning.
“I have decided to enter the draft this year and go to the NFL,” Young said. “I know that everybody’s behind me, and I thank God for that and I love y’all for that.”
On Wednesday, Young rallied the Longhorns from a 12-point deficit in the final five minutes to upset Southern California in the Rose Bowl, 41-38. The Heisman Trophy runner-up, Young capped a brilliant performance by running for a go-ahead eight-yard touchdown on fourth down with 19 seconds left.
Young completed 30-of-40 passes for 267 yards and rushed 20 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns for the Longhorns, who snapped the Trojans’ 34-game winning streak. He became the first player in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season.
By virtue of having the worst record in the NFL this season, the Houston Texas have the No. 1 pick and will face enormous local pressure to select Young. However, the team appears set at quarterback with David Carr and is expected to pick USC running back Reggie Bush - assuming the Heisman winner declares for the draft.
The second and third teams in the draft, the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans, may be searching for quarterbacks. USC senior Matt Leinart is considered the top quarterback prospect. Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow served in that role for USC before leaving for the NFL in 2005.
