Per Multiple Reports, RB Joe Yearby to forego senior season, enter NFL draft

Per multiple reports, Miami junior RB Joseph Yearby will forego his senior season to enter the 2017 NFL Draft.

This was first reported by Peter Ariz of CanesInSight.com

And confirmed by Matt Porter of the Palm Beach Post.

Both reports cite sources close to the situation, a standard for reporting these kinds of stories.

Yearby has been a solid player for Miami over the last 3 years. The Miami (FL) Central HS alum has rushed for 2103 yards and 14 TD on 390 carries, while adding 456 yards receiving and 3 TDs on 41 catches over his Miami career.

After having a 1,000 yard season in 2015, Yearby has clearly fallen down the depth chart at RB. After being RB2 behind Mark Walton for most of the season, Yearby slipped to RB3 behind Walton and a resurgent Gus Edwards in recent weeks. After rushing 9 times for 53 yards and a TD @ Virginia on November 12th, Yearby has accumulated only 3 carries for 17 yards in the last 2 games, wins over NC State and Duke.

An outside factor that is likely impacting Yearby’s decision to leave early is the fact that he has 2 children, aged 4 and 2. With the responsibility of providing for his family, it makes sense that Yearby may be looking to begin his professional career now that he’s eligible to do so.

Yearby’s draft status is unclear at this time. Some analysts have him as an undrafted free agent, while at least one I saw on twitter has him as a day 3 (rounds 5-7) pick.

In either event, we should support Yearby making the best decision for him and his family.

If he decides to leave early as the reports have detailed, Yearby’s final game as a Hurricane would be the yet-to-be-announced Bowl Game to close the 2016 season.