Mike Evans to enter NFL draft

— -- Texas A&M sophomore receiver Mike Evans will forgo his final two seasons of eligibility and enter the 2014 NFL draft, the school announced Thursday.

Evans, a finalist for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best receiver, just put the finishing touches on a career season in which he posted personal highs in receiving yards (1,394) and receiving touchdowns (12).

"After talking things over with Coach [Kevin] Sumlin and my family I have decided to enter the NFL draft," Evans said in a statement. "... I made this decision based on what I thought was best for myself and my family."

The 6-foot-5, 225-pound Evans was a handful for opposing defenses this season. Against Alabama and Auburn, Evans combined for 18 receptions for 566 yards and five touchdowns and was the first player in SEC history to have two games of 225 or more receiving yards.

ESPN College Football and NFL Draft Analyst Todd McShay had Evans going 20th overall in the first round of his first mock draft of the 2014 cycle. Evans is ranked as the 24th-best draft prospect in Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 for 2014 and ranked as the third-best receiver in the draft.

"It's been a pleasure watching Mike's development as a receiver and a person the past two seasons," Sumlin said in a release by the school. "Mike was one of the team's hardest workers in whatever he was doing, and it paid off for him on the field."

Evans, who played only one season of varsity high school football at Galveston Ball High, signed with Texas A&M in 2011 and redshirted his first season. In 2012, Evans burst on the scene with 82 receptions for 1,105 yards and five touchdowns.

He leaves Texas A&M holding the school record for single-season receiving yards and single-game receiving yards and tied for the single-season touchdown receptions record with former A&M receiver Jeff Fuller.

Evans showed big-play ability this season, becoming the only receiver in the FBS with more than 45 receptions to average more than 20 yards per catch. He had a nation-leading 17 receptions of 30 or more yards and 28 receptions of 20 or more yards, which is second nationally.