Mauck, UCLA CB Ware to enter NFL draft
January 13, 2004
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- LSU quarterback Matt Mauck will skip his final year of college eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
Also Tuesday, UCLA cornerback Matt Ware decided to enter the draft, while LSU defensive end Marcus Spears, Texas running back Cedric Benson and Michigan defensive back Marlin Jackson will stay in school for their senior seasons.
Mauck was 18-2 as a starter and set an LSU record with 28 touchdown passes this past season en route to a Sugar Bowl victory over Oklahoma and Bowl Championship Series title. He becomes the second Tiger to leave school early, joining receiver Michael Clayton.
The early entry deadline is Friday.
``I want to give it my best shot and hopefully it will work out,'' Mauck said at a news conference.
Mauck, who turns 25 next month, graduated in December. He is getting married in February and was considering entering dental school.
Benson, who rushed for 1,360 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2003, is only the third Longhorns back to rush for 1,000 yards in three seasons.
``I have a lot of things I'd still like to accomplish at Texas but the most important one is to win more games and try to help the team win a Big 12 and national championship,'' Benson said.
Teammate Chance Mock, who began last season as the starting quarterback before losing his job to Vince Young, also said he will stay at Texas. He had considered transferring to a Division I-AA school.
Ware, a 6-foot-3, 213-pounder, was a three-year starter for the Bruins. He signed a baseball contract with the Seattle Mariners and was an outfielder in their minor league system the past two summers.
Jackson played cornerback his first two seasons, earned All-Big Ten and All-America honors as a sophomore, but switched to free safety for the 2003 season.
He missed four games and finished with two interceptions and 48 tackles. Jackson will switch back to his original position for the upcoming season.
January 13, 2004
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- LSU quarterback Matt Mauck will skip his final year of college eligibility to enter the NFL draft.
Also Tuesday, UCLA cornerback Matt Ware decided to enter the draft, while LSU defensive end Marcus Spears, Texas running back Cedric Benson and Michigan defensive back Marlin Jackson will stay in school for their senior seasons.
Mauck was 18-2 as a starter and set an LSU record with 28 touchdown passes this past season en route to a Sugar Bowl victory over Oklahoma and Bowl Championship Series title. He becomes the second Tiger to leave school early, joining receiver Michael Clayton.
The early entry deadline is Friday.
``I want to give it my best shot and hopefully it will work out,'' Mauck said at a news conference.
Mauck, who turns 25 next month, graduated in December. He is getting married in February and was considering entering dental school.
Benson, who rushed for 1,360 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2003, is only the third Longhorns back to rush for 1,000 yards in three seasons.
``I have a lot of things I'd still like to accomplish at Texas but the most important one is to win more games and try to help the team win a Big 12 and national championship,'' Benson said.
Teammate Chance Mock, who began last season as the starting quarterback before losing his job to Vince Young, also said he will stay at Texas. He had considered transferring to a Division I-AA school.
Ware, a 6-foot-3, 213-pounder, was a three-year starter for the Bruins. He signed a baseball contract with the Seattle Mariners and was an outfielder in their minor league system the past two summers.
Jackson played cornerback his first two seasons, earned All-Big Ten and All-America honors as a sophomore, but switched to free safety for the 2003 season.
He missed four games and finished with two interceptions and 48 tackles. Jackson will switch back to his original position for the upcoming season.
