Robert Griffin III, the Baylor quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy, will declare for the NFL Draft, ESPN reported Sunday on its NFL Countdown show.
The deadline to declare for the draft as an underclassmen is Jan. 15. Griffin is a junior.
A decision at this time to pursue the NFL would not be a surprise. Yahoo! Sports reported in mid-December that Griffin's parents had interviewed agents.
If Griffin does enter the draft, he'll be a first-round pick and could even force the discussion about whether he should go ahead of Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.
SI.com video: Gary Danielson on RG3's NFL prospects
Many teams will try to trade up to get their hands on Griffin, Sporting News draft analyst Russ Lande wrote in his latest mock draft. The Minnesota Vikings or St. Louis Rams, likely to hold the second and third picks, could acquire plenty in return from a team desperate for an elite quarterback.
The Indianapolis Colts figure to hold the first overall pick and are projected to pick Luck.
The Cleveland Browns will likely have to trade up to get Griffin, Lande wrote, but there is little doubt they want to find their quarterback of the future. Griffin will be the most athletically gifted quarterback to enter the NFL since Michael Vick?and he also has great touch on his deep throws.
Read more: Lande's full first-round selection projections
Earlier this week, Browns coach Pat Shurmur said he would watch Baylor?s bowl game to get another look at Griffin. ?I?ve watched him,? Shurmur told the Akron Beacon Journal.
Shurmur called Griffin a "tremendous talent, good player.?
When asked whether Griffin would fit in the Browns' West Coast scheme, Shurmur said, ?Good players fit in every offense.?
Read more: Shurmur on RG3
Earlier, Lande wrote an analysis of Griffin as an NFL prospect.
In Lande's report, he noted that Griffin was regarded as a good athlete with potential when he arrived at Baylor, but raw as a passer. What stands out this college football season is how much he improved in the pocket. Most notable are his awareness, poise under pressure and accuracy.
Scouts are now intrigued by his NFL potential based on his growth at quarterback.
Griffin isn't perfect, Lande wrote.
Read more: Lande's analysis of RG3
Griffin completed 72.4 percent of his passes for 4,293 yards in 2011. He threw for 37 touchdowns and was intercepted six times. His quarterback rating was 189.5. He also ran for 699 yards and 10 touchdowns.
If Griffin is indeed leaving Baylor, his final game long will be remembered by Bears fans. In last week?s Alamo Bowl against Washington, Griffin led No. 15 Baylor to a 67-56 victory.
With Bears fans chanting, ?One more year. One more year,? Griffin demurred.
"I want Baylor nation to enjoy this," he said. "It's not about me. I've got about two weeks. I'll enjoy this the next day, and then the next day, and then I'll make it."
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