Pittsburgh S Whitehead to enter NFL draft

Dec 11, 2017 - 7:15 PM Pittsburgh junior safety Jordan Whitehead announced on social media Monday that he will enter the 2018 NFL draft.

"It has been an honor and a privilege to play for this university, Coach (Pat) Narduzzi, and this coaching staff for the past three years," he wrote. "I would like to thank them for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, but feel I am ready to take the next step in achieving my dreams."

Whitehead (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) has been listed as the No. 1 free safety for the 2019 NFL draft, according to NFLDraftScout.com.

Whitehead, who was suspended for the first three games this season because of a violation of team rules, made 60 tackles and broke up four passes in nine games this season. Those totals didn't live up to his previous seasons.

He was a consensus Freshman All-American in 2015, when he led the Panthers with 109 tackles and earned third-team All-ACC honors. He was a second-team all-conference pick in 2016, when he started a game at safety and wide receiver.

Whitehead is the second Pitt player to declare early for the draft. Wide receiver/returner Quadree Henderson did so last week.