Kruger leaves Utah after perfect season

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print

Utah sophomore defensive end Paul Kruger will forgo his final two years of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft.

Kruger, who has already left the team to work out in Florida, made his decision official Sunday evening after receiving an evaluation from the NFL Advisory Committee.

"Finishing this 2008 football season undefeated and having the privilege to get to play under someone as special as coach Kyle Whittingham has been a lifelong dream fulfilled," Kruger said in a statement released by the school. "Now it is my journey to pursue another lifelong dream, which is to become a professional football player in the National Football League."

Kruger, an All-Mountain West Conference first-team selection, led the Utes with eight sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss, which ranked second in the Mountain West Conference. He also had 61 tackles and an interception.

Graham Watson covers college football for ESPN.com.

• Recommend0
• Tweet0
• Comments0
• Email
• Print
• Subscribe

Graham Watson | email

College Football

• Archive

Watson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Missouri Tigers and the Big 12 Conference for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. She also covered college football recruiting for the Dallas Morning News.