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Virginia: Darryl Blackstock will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft after leading the nation's linebackers with 11 sacks as a junior.

"Darryl played a significant role in a lot of games that we have won," Cavaliers coach Al Groh said. "He is a talented player, and we wish great success for him with this next challenge."

The three-year starter is the second Virginia star to announce this week that he'll leave school. All-American tight end Heath Miller also said he will enter the NFL draft.

Blackstock finishes his Virginia career with 27 sacks.

Underclassmen have until Saturday to declare for the draft and until Wednesday to withdraw their names.

Notre Dame: Justin Tuck, Notre Dame's career sacks leader, said Friday that he's passing up his final year of college eligibility to enter the NFL draft.

Tuck, who will graduate in May from Notre Dame's business college, was voted the team's most valuable player last season. The defensive end finished with a school-record 24½ sacks, including a record 13½ in 2003.

"The coaching staff at Notre Dame did a great job preparing me for the NFL," Tuck said. "I know that I'm ready to test my skills and meet the challenges."

Tuck did not play in Notre Dame's 38-21 loss to Oregon State in the Insight Bowl because of tendinitis in his knee.

Oklahoma: A junior safety wants to leave school early and become eligible for the NFL draft, his mother said Friday.

Brodney Pool has filed the necessary paperwork with the league, his mother, Rose Brimmer, said.

Pool, who couldn't be reached for comment Friday, hasn't signed with an agent but is "adamant" about moving on, Brimmer said.

"Anything's possible, but I don't think he'll change his mind," she told The Oklahoman.

Brimmer said her son was in Austin, Texas, and doesn't plan to return to Norman for the spring semester, which begins Monday.

Pool, a 6-foot-2, 208-pounder, is a two-year starter who led OU with 92 tackles in 2004.

Before the Sooners left for the Orange Bowl, Pool declined to answer a question about his future.

"I don't know, man, I'm not going to tip my hat to you," Pool told the Tulsa World. "I'll just pray about whatever happens, whatever's best for me."

OU coach Bob Stoops declined comment until after he has had further discussions with Pool, The Oklahoman reported. Co-defensive coordinators Brent Venables and Bo Pelini also declined comment.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press