Iowa RB Greene declares for NFL draft

Jan 1, 2009 - 10:59 PM TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Iowa running back Shonn Greene figured he would go out on top.

After rushing for 121 yards and three touchdowns in Thursday's 31-10 victory over South Carolina in the Outback Bowl, Greene announced he was skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Greene, the only player in the Football Bowl Subdivision to rush for at least 100 yards in every game this season, has been projected as either a late first-round or early second-round pick.

If the New Jersey native returned to Iowa, he might be one of the preseason favorites for the Heisman Trophy next season, but he is more interested in testing his wears in the NFL.

"I don't think there's really a lot more I can do here," said Greene, who won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. "People talk about the Heisman, but I think that's a lot of politics.

"I don't like getting caught up in all of that, so I just figure I'll try my chances."

After missing the entire 2007 season due to academic ineligibility, Greene rushed for 1,850 yards and 20 touchdowns this season - both school records.

Iowa linebacker A.J. Edds can't question Greene's decision to turn pro.

"I don't blame him," Edds said. "What else does the guy have to prove? If I'm in his shoes, I do the exact same thing."

Greene entered Thursday's game as the second-leading rusher in the FBS, trailing only Connecticut's Donald Brown. He ended the day 28 yards ahead of Brown's total of 1,822 yards.

However, Brown has yet to play in UConn's bowl game as the Huskies face Buffalo in the International Bowl on Saturday.