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Miami loses one more player to NFL draft

CORAL GABLES -- Miami tight end Jeremy Shockey will not return for his senior year and will enter the NFL draft, becoming the third member of the Rose Bowl-winning team to leave early.

"I have a chance to be a first-round pick," Shockey said Monday. "It's hard to pass up an opportunity like that."

Shockey, Miami's leading receiver this season, joins running back Clinton Portis and cornerback Phillip Buchanon as Hurricanes players to declared themselves eligible for April's NFL draft. Friday is the deadline for underclassmen to apply for the draft.

Shockey, a 6-foot-6 sure-handed receiver from Oklahoma, had 40 receptions for 519 yards and seven touchdowns this season. He caught five passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in the Hurricanes' 37-14 win against Nebraska in the Rose Bowl.

Without Shockey, the Hurricanes probably will turn to Kellen Winslow Jr. to fill the position next season.

Winslow, the son of NFL Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, started his freshman year at receiver. He moved to tight end for much of the season, then switched back to receiver for the Rose Bowl. He likely will move back to tight end this spring.

ARKANSAS: Sophomore quarterback Zak Clark, who started the Cotton Bowl and nine other games, was granted a release by the school, clearing the way for him to transfer.

Television stations KFSM in Fort Smith and KTHV in Little Rock reported Clark will play football and baseball at Central Arkansas.

"Zak is an outstanding individual and has made a positive impact on our program," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "He helped lead us to a dramatic turnaround this season and a berth in the Cotton Bowl. We wish him the best of luck in whatever he decides to pursue."

AUBURN: Bobby Petrino, a coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was named offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Petrino, 40, served as the Jags' offensive coordinator in 2001 and was the quarterbacks coach the previous two seasons.

"I gave it a good run in the NFL, I enjoyed my time there and learned a lot, but college is where I prefer to be," Petrino said. "I've spent most of my coaching career at the college level. I'm very excited to get back and coach there again."

KENTUCKY: Tight end Derek Smith announced he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

WASHINGTON STATE: Junior college running back Jermaine Green, from Daytona Beach, signed and will enroll next week.

Green, 6-foot-2 and 228 pounds, rushed for 1,010 yards last season at Butler County Community College in Kansas.

"Jermaine is a real good player and will be in the mix this spring," coach Mike Price said.

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