Wilson, Leshoure leaving Illini for NFL
Rashard Mendenhall wore No. 5. He set Illinois' single-season rushing record in his junior year and led his team to a bowl.
Then, on Jan. 11, 2008, Mendenhall returned to his high school to reveal his plan to leave school a year early in order to turn pro.
Mikel Leshoure wore No. 5. He broke Mendenhall's single-season rushing record (as well as touchdowns record) during Illinois' Texas Bowl win on Dec. 29.
Now, three years to the day of Mendenhall's announcement, Leshoure will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Champaign Centennial High School to announce his plan to turn pro.
What are the chances Illinois' incoming running backs — Joliet Catholic's Josh Ferguson and Texas' Donovonn Young are the current committed recruits — will battle for the No. 5 jersey to get a jump-start on their NFL careers?
Leshoure, who rushed for 1,697 yards and scored 20 TDs for the 7-6 Illini, isn't the only standout leaving school with a year of eligibility remaining.
Coupled with middle linebacker Martez Wilson's announcement Monday that he's going to the NFL, Illinois' 2011 squad won't have any of the three players who earned first-team all-Big Ten honors.
Wilson offered his thoughts in a statement:
“In the end, my decision came down to achieving my goals. This year, I've accomplished two very important personal goals: to be the
first in my family to obtain a college degree and to help Illinois win a bowl game. After weighing all my options, I've decided it was time to pursue my next goal and take my game to the next level.”
Junior defensive tackle Corey Liuget, who earned second-team all-league honors, is expected to turn pro as well.
All early-entry candidates must declare their plans by Saturday.
If Liuget chooses the NFL, too, then Illinois retains six offensive starters, six defensive starters and second-team all-Big Ten kicker Derek Dimke for 2011.
That doesn't include the returns of planned 2010 starters cornerback Terry Hawthorne, safety Supo Sanni and tackle Corey Lewis — all of which were injured. Only Hawthorne saw action during the year.