Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love will declare for the NFL draft and forgo his final year of eligibility, the university announced Tuesday evening.
Love, a junior who will graduate this month with a degree in exercise science, will still play in the Frisco Bowl against Kent State on Dec. 20.
“Ever since I was a kid, I have always dreamed of playing in the National Football League,” Love said in a news release. “After spending the past four years at Utah State University, I am blessed and humbled to now have that opportunity to pursue my dream and I want to thank my family, friends, coaches and teammates for helping me get to where I am today.”
Reports have surfaced in the past two weeks regarding Love and whether he would enter the NFL draft or leave Utah State for another university as a graduate transfer. If he transferred, he was linked to schools such as Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma, per reports.
But Love will try his luck in the draft, where he has been projected to be a first-round pick.
Love took to Twitter to thank the Aggies fans, his coaches, teammates and family members. He also mentioned there was still work to do this season.
“I haven’t quite closed this chapter in my life, though, as I look forward to putting on my Aggie uniform one final time for our bowl game,” Love wrote.
Love had a relatively down season in 2019. While boasting 3,085 passing yards and 17 touchdowns, he has also thrown 16 interceptions and his passing accuracy (60.6%) is down from last season’s 64%.
Love’s breakout year came last season as a sophomore, when he threw for more than 3,500 yards 32 touchdowns, both single-season school records. He also threw for more than 300 yards in seven separate games, also a school record.
Aggies coach Gary Andersen spoke positively about the news and praised Love for the timing of its delivery.
“Jordan and his family have been tremendous throughout this process, and he is making this announcement now so it’s not a distraction to the team and his teammates leading up to the bowl game,” Andersen in the release. “Jordan has been a great student-athlete and is a tremendous teammate, and we are excited for his future in the NFL.”
Love ranks second all-time in passing yards and attempts; third in touchdown passes, competitions and total offense; and fourth in completion percentage.
Utah State’s star quarterback will start combine training in January ahead of the NFL Combine held in late February.
