Buckeyes' Boston Going Pro

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

January 6, 1999 / 7:00 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

David Boston, a second-team All-American who caught more passes than anyone else at Ohio State, announced today he will give up his senior season to make himself available for the NFL Draft.

Since the 1992 draft, coach John Cooper has lost 10 underclassmen who left early for the pros. And it may get worse because linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer is also considering passing up his final season of eligibility.

Through his three seasons, Boston picked up Ohio State records for receptions in a game (14), season (85) and career (191), receiving yards in a season (1,435) and career (2,855) and touchdown catches in a career (34).

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As a freshman, he caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Joe Germaine with 19 seconds left in the 1997 Rose Bowl to give the Buckeyes a 20-17 victory over second-ranked Arizona State.

Boston said he is ready for a new challenge and began to think about whether to turn pro after Ohio State's Sugar Bowl victory over Texas A&M.

He made his decision "after a lot of soul searching and in-depth conversation with family and friends."

Cooper said he had counseled Boston not to turn pro.

"If I thought he was making the right decision by leaving, I'd tell him to leave," Cooper said. "I think he needs to come back. I think David can win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver. ... This guy can win the Heisman Trophy."

Boston had said he would not base his decision on the graduation of Germaine, one of the nation's most accurate passers. Most of his 85 catches this season for 1,435 yards were thrown by Germaine. He also had said he would not return just for the personal glory.

"I'm not going to come back just to try to win the Biletnikoff Award," Boston said after the bowl game. "I'm having a lot of fun right now. College football is great. I enjoy playing with the Buckeyes."

With several other top receivers already available in the draft, Cooper had wonderd if it would be worth it financially for Boston to make the jump a year early.

"If you're not going to be the first guy taken at your position, then why should you come out?" Cooper said.

The Columbus Dispatch said that Katzenmoyer, the 1997 Butkus Award winner as the nation's best linebacker, reportedly met with OSU defensive coordinator Fred Pagac Tuesday night to discuss his options. Katzenmoyer had yet to set up a news conference to announce what he will do next season.

All underclassmen entering the draft are required by the NFL to do so by Friday.