WRs Evans, Cooks, Robinson declare for NFL Draft
Wide receivers Mike Evans of Texas A&M, Brandin Cooks of Oregon State and Allen Robinson of Penn State decided Thursday to make themselves eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft.
Evans (6-5, 225) is rated as the No. 2 wide receiver and the No. 10 overall prospect by NFLDraftScout.com. The redshirt sophomore is projected as a first-round pick in May.
Cooks (5-10, 185) is ranked as the No. 7 wide receiver and 38th overall in the projected 2014 draft by NFLDraftScout.com. Robinson (6-3, 210) is rated as the No. 4 wide receiver and 33rd overall.
"After talking things over with Coach (Kevin) Sumlin and my family, I have decided to enter the NFL Draft," Evans said in a statement released by Texas A&M. "Thanks go to Texas A&M for giving me an opportunity to play college football. Thanks also to my coaches and teammates for helping me develop as a player and as a man. I made this decision based on what I thought was best for myself and my family."
A Biletnikoff Award finalist, Evans set a school record with 1,394 receiving yards this season on 69 catches and another record for receiving yards in a game with 279 in a loss to Alabama. His career totals include 26 starts, 151 catches, 2,499 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.
"It's been a pleasure watching Mike's development as a receiver and a person the past two seasons," Sumlin said. "Mike was one of the team's hardest workers in whatever he was doing, and it paid off for him on the field.
"I think one of the highest compliments you can say about Mike is that he plays as hard when he doesn't have the ball in his hands as when he does. Texas A&M wishes him the best as he moves on to the next chapter in his life."
Cooks, the 2013 recipient of the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's most outstanding college receiver, earned consensus All-America honors following the recently completed season. He set numerous school and Pac-12 Conference records, including new league marks for season receptions with 128 and yards in a season with 1,730 (NCAA leader in 2013).
During his career, he has accounted for 226 receptions for 3,272 yards and 26 total touchdowns. Overall, he has compiled 3,863 all-purpose yards.
Cooks is utilizing the NFL Draft Advisory Board, made up of NFL scouts, to determine interest professional teams may have in him. He has until 11:59 p.m. EST Jan. 18 to formally withdraw from consideration for the NFL Draft and return for his senior season if he hasn't secured representation from a player agent.
Robinson's announcement comes only a few hours after Penn State introduced Larry Johnson as interim head coach as it searches for a replacement for Bill O'Brien, who is heading to the NFL as the Houston Texans coach.
Robinson is the 2012 and 2013 Big Ten Richter-Howard Receiver of the Year and earned seven All-America honors after the 2013 season.
"It was a honor to wear a penn state uniform for 3 years. I will miss my teammates and coaches, blessed for the opportunity and experience!" Robinson tweeted Thursday.
Robinson's combined 174 receptions and 2,445 receiving yards the past two years both rank No. 3 in Big Ten history for consecutive seasons.
A semifinalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award, Robinson earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media the past two seasons. In Penn State's eight Big Ten games in 2013, Robinson made 71 catches for 984 yards.
The 2014 NFL Draft is May 8-10 in New York City.
