Posted by bambi2godzilla on 1/2/2008, 10:54 am
63.249.102.18
The Bronco offensive lines is disappearing this season. Can others step up?
Boise State's Clady headed to the NFL
Bob Murphy
Idaho Statesman
January 02, 2008
The All-American offensive tackle said he's 'ready for a little change' and won't return for his senior season.
The NFL scouts believe he is prepared for their league. The mock drafts think teams are lined up to select him.
And now Ryan Clady is ready, too.
The Boise State junior offensive tackle will forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft, he told the Idaho Statesman on Tuesday afternoon.
"I was just kind of ready for a little change," said Clady, a consensus All-American this season and a three-year starter for the Broncos.
Clady's plans were first reported on IdahoStatesman.com Tuesday afternoon.
Clady, a 6-foot-6, 317-pounder from Rialto, Calif., said he made the decision after the Broncos' 41-38 loss to East Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 23.
Clady is believed to be the first Bronco player to leave school early for the NFL. Then again, he's the most highly regarded prospect in the school's history. Boise State has never had a first-round pick.
Clady has been widely projected to be an early first-round pick in the NFL Draft. The NFL College Advisory Committee, which is used by underclassmen to gauge their draft value, assigned him a first-round grade.
In Internet mock drafts, Clady is projected to be among the first 12 players selected. ESPN.com has Clady going No. 7 to the Kansas City Chiefs.
"You never know with this process," Clady said. "I'm going to train and work hard and see what it gets me."
The No. 7 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft - Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson - signed a five-year contract worth $40.5 million, including $17 million guaranteed.
Clady said he signed with JL Sports, a sports marketing company that represents more than 30 NFL players, including former Boise State tight end Jeb Putzier. By signing with an agent, Clady cannot return to Boise State.
"Picking an agent has been pretty stressful," Clady said.
He said he spoke with family members and several Boise State coaches, including head coach Chris Petersen and offensive line coach Scott Huff, while making his decision. Clady also consulted with former line coach Sean Kugler, who is now with the Buffalo Bills.
"They were a little biased," Clady said of Petersen and Huff. "But I just tried to talk to a couple of people who could give me advice about the situation."
Those people included his father Ross. Ryan, whose mother passed away in 2000, is particularly close with his father. Ryan is the oldest of four children.
"He felt that it was up to me. He wants me to get my degree and try to take classes in the offseason and finalize that degree," said Clady, who plans to take a couple of Internet classes this spring and is about a year away from graduating with a degree in communications.
Clady said he would spend most of the spring preparing for the April draft with workouts outside of Boise. The NFL Draft begins April 26.
With Clady's departure, the Broncos will be without five of their top six offensive linemen from the 2007 team when they open spring practice. Senior Andrew Woodruff is the only returner.
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