<
>

Kony Ealy headed to NFL draft

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy is bypassing his senior season for the NFL draft.

Ealy said Friday night after the No. 8 Tigers' 41-31 win over No. 13 Oklahoma State in the AT&T Cotton Bowl that he felt it was time "to go on to the next level."

An All-SEC pick, the 6-foot-5 Ealy had six tackles and two sacks in his final game, pushing his season total to 9½ sacks.

"I love my teammates. I love my coaches," Ealy said. "I've gone from a boy to a man here."

He had 14 sacks in 38 career games for the Tigers.