OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss defensive lineman Breeland Speaks has decided to skip his final year of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft.
Speaks released a statement through the school confirming the decision on Tuesday. The 6-foot-3, 285-pound junior finished second on the team with 67 tackles this fall, including eight for a loss and seven sacks. He led the team with eight quarterback hurries.
Speaks thanked teammates and coaches for "an awesome four years." Speaks entered the Ole Miss program in 2014, redshirting his first season before playing the last three years.
Ole Miss coach Matt Luke said the program is "excited to see him take this next step in his career" and that he's "particularly proud of the leadership (Speaks) brought to our team amidst the challenges we faced."