Tim Couch To Enter NFL Draft

Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch will give up his senior year and make himself eligible for the NFL draft and an expected multimillion-dollar payday, The Associated Press has learned.

"He's definitely coming out" in the draft, a source familiar with the situation said today, confirming earlier reports that Couch had decided to turn pro.

Kentucky called a news conference for Thursday when Couch is to announce his decision. The school said coach Hal Mumme also would attend.

Couch could be the first pick in April's draft by the expansion Cleveland Browns.

He is coveted by NFL scouts for his 6-foot-5, 225-pound size, accuracy, touch and experience in Kentucky's pro-style passing offense.

Couch threw for 4,275 yards and 36 touchdowns this season in leading the Wildcats (7-5) to their first seven-win season since 1984 and their first New Year's Day bowl appearance since 1952.

Also heading to the NFL today were David Boston, a second-team All-American wide receiver at Ohio State, and Kris Farris, the Outland Trophy winner from UCLA.

Boston holds the Ohio State record for career touchdown catches with 34. He also has set Buckeyes records for receptions in a game (14), season (85) and career (191), and receiving yards in a seaso(1,435) and career (2,855).

Farris was college football's outstanding interior lineman. The 6-foot-9, 315-pound junior said a significant factor in his decision to leave was his teammates. Since he redshirted as a freshman many players in his incoming freshman class, including quarterback Cade McNown, have completed their eligibility.

On Tuesday, Butkus Award winner Chris Claiborne of Southern California and Miami running back Edgerrin James said they were leaving college early for the NFL.

Florida linebacker Jevon Kearse and defensive tackle Reggie McGrew and Alabama-Birmingham linebacker Brian Smith joined Claiborne and James on Tuesday announcing their intentions to enter the draft.

Claiborne won the Butkus as the nation's top college linebacker and was a unanimous All-America choice after leading USC to an 8-5 record and a berth in the Sun Bowl. A three-year starter, Claiborne led USC with 128 tackles in 1998, including seven for losses, and six interceptions.

He said the only thing that has eluded him was playing in the Rose Bowl, but that alone wasn't enough to persuade him to return.

"There's a little bit of unfinished business at SC, but I'm ready for a new challenge," Claiborne said. "I did everything I could for this university. I'm ready to step up to a new level."

Junior wide receiver R. Jay Soward, Claiborne's teammate and boyhood friend, said he would return for his senior season.

James set a Miami single-season rushing record with 1,416 yards and 19 touchdowns during the regular season. He is only one of three Miami backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards and the only one to do it in consecutive seasons.

"I thought this was an opportunity I should go for right now," he said. "Just thinking how the season went, this year was the right time. Things have turned out real well."

James opened scouts eyes with a 299-yard rushing performance in Miami's 49-45 upset of UCLA last month and said he expects to be a first-round pick.

Kearse, a 6-foot-5, 250-pounder, had 54 tackles and a team-best 71/2 sacks for the nation's ninth-ranked defense.

McGrew, a 6-foot-2, 295-pound All-SEC selection, had 41 tackles and five sacks in nine games this season. He missed two games with a back injury.

"I wouldn't say it was an easy decision, but once I looked at it and weighed all my options, it wasn't that hard of a decision to make," McGrew said.

Meanwhile, Arizona State tailback J.R. Redmond and Indiana defensive end Adewale Ogunleye decided to return for their senior seasons.

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