Louisville CB Alexander to enter NFL draft

Dec 22, 2017 - 4:43 PM Louisville junior cornerback Jaire Alexander will not play in next week's TaxSlayer Bowl and will turn pro, the school announced Friday morning.

"I know it was a very difficult decision for Jaire," Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement. "I appreciate the contributions he made to the program over the last three seasons, and I wish him all the best in the future."

Alexander is rated as a late second-round prospect by NFLDraftScout.com.

Louisville plays Mississippi State in the TaxSlayer Bowl on Dec. 30 in Jacksonville, Fla.

Alexander (5-foot-11, 192 pounds) suffered through an injury-plagued junior year in which he sustained a knee injury in the season opener against Purdue and a broken hand in practice in late October. He finished with 19 tackles and one interception in six games.

He entered the season with some preseason All-America honors, coming off a sophomore year in which he intercepted five passes -- two against eventual national champion Clemson -- and was explosive in the return game, including a 69-yard punt return vs. Florida State.