By Annie Moore
“After discussing all the options with my family and the coaching staff, I have decided to forgo my senior season and declare for the NFL Draft.”
And with that, Louisville’s quarterback for the last three years announced he was leaving. Teddy Bridgewater announced Wednesday he will forgo his senior season to enter the 2014 National Football League draft.
Bridgewater’s statement came on the heels of an outstanding 2013 season, which included a win over his hometown team, Miami University in the Russell Athletic Bowl just four days prior to his announcement. In the game against Miami, Bridgewater went 35-for-45, and had a career-high 447 yards and three touchdowns.
Bridgewater broke the University of Louisville record for number of touchdown passes in a single season with 31 this previous year.
Bridgewater was 30-9 in his years at Louisville, including two bowl wins, two conference titles, and two double-digit win seasons.
“I can’t express how much my time at Louisville has meant to me. I will cherish every moment on the field and off the field, and every bond that I built. I will forever represent the university with the utmost pride and respect.” Bridgewater said.
Bridgewater will leave Louisville as arguably the best to wear the red and black, and leaves big shoes to fill for returning quarterbacks, redshirt freshman Will Gardner, freshman Kyle Bolin and junior Brett Nelson.
Using his personal twitter account Wednesday, Teddy Bridgewater messaged Will Gardner saying “Now it’s your turn! #DoWork”
The University’s football program will no doubt need Gardner or one of the other QB’ to step up as it enters its freshman season in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Teddy is projected to go first overall in the draft, and the Houston Texans have the first pick. The Texans made a deal with former Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien, and are looking to take a quarterback in the draft.
Bridgewater graduated from the University of Louisville early, earning a degree in Sports Administration in just three years.
“I didn’t know much about Louisville when I made the decision to attend,” Bridgewater said. “But in the end, it was one of the best decisions I could have ever made.”
