McFadden, Jones both opt for NFL
January 14, 2008
Fayetteville, AR (Sports Network) - Arkansas junior running back Darren McFadden, a two-time runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, and his running mate, Felix Jones, will both forego their senior seasons and enter the NFL Draft.
Both players declared their intentions during a joint press conference Monday.
McFadden, the 2006 Heisman runner-up to Ohio State's Troy Smith and the second-place finisher to Tim Tebow of Florida in 2007, ran for 1,725 yards with 15 touchdowns in 12 regular-season games as a junior. He tied an SEC record with 321 rushing yards in a November 3 game against South Carolina and averaged 143.8 yards per game -- fourth-best in the nation.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound McFadden, a product of Little Rock's Pulaski High School, then gained 105 yards on 21 carries in the Razorbacks' 38-7 loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day.
In addition, the multi-purpose threat had 21 receptions for 164 yards with another score, and also threw for four touchdown passes this season. A two- time winner of the Doak Walker Award, given to the country's top running back, McFadden will likely be among the top five players selected in the April draft.
During his three-year career at Arkansas, McFadden carried 785 times for 4,590 yards and 41 touchdowns, while catching 46 passes for 365 yards and a pair of scores.
Meanwhile, Jones also rushed for more than 1,000 yards the past two seasons.
Both players are projected as the first-round picks in the draft, set for New York on April 26-27.
