West Virginia RB Smallwood heading to NFL

Saying he will “forever be a Mountaineer,” West Virginia running back Wendell Smallwood on Wednesday declared he is forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft.

“All my life I've dreamed of competing on Sundays, and I believe the time is now to pursue that dream,” he wrote in a letter posted to his Twitter account. “There are no words for what the past three years at West Virginia University have meant to me, not only in my development as a football player but more importantly as a man.”

Smallwood led the Big 12 in rushing as a junior this season, gaining 1,519 yards and scoring nine touchdowns on 238 carries. He shared time with Hopewell graduate Rushel Shell.

For his career, Smallwood gained 2,462 yards.

“I want to thank Coach (Dana) Holgorsen for always believing in me, both on and off the field,” Smallwood said. “You have been a great mentor to me and always had my back when others didn't.”

Smallwood's departure leaves Shell as the leading returning rusher for West Virginia. Shell finished with 708 yards and eight touchdowns as a redshirt junior this season.