Collegiate Times

football center

Junior defensive end Jason Worilds announced Thursday that he will forego his final season at Virginia Tech and enter the NFL Draft.

“This whole week I’ve been finding myself. I just felt it was time to leave,” Worilds said. “I came to the decision through my assessment of myself and how I currently feel as an athlete.”

Worilds thanked his coaches and noted that he spoke with his defensive line coach, Charley Wiles, earlier in the day about his decision.

“The whole coaching staff has told me that they support me in whatever I choose,” Worilds said. “Coach Wiles told me that he wishes the best for me.”

“Jason is a very talented player, but is also a very smart player,” head coach Frank Beamer said to hokiesports.com. “He has the toughness to be successful after playing through a shoulder injury last year. We wish him a long NFL career. He was great for Virginia Tech and we wish him the best in the NFL.”

Although he has not hired an agent yet, Worilds made it known that there would not be any second guessing as to whether or not the move is the right one and that his declaration is “final.”

The junior said that he was “anxious” about beginning the transition into a pro career but that he was unclear in terms of the specific details concerning the next steps of the process.

“I’ll be training somewhere,” Worilds said. “That’s all I really know at this point.”

Also up in the air is the 6’2”, 262-pounder’s role as a professional. The initial notion is that Worilds could be just as successful as a linebacker in the NFL as he would as a defensive end.

“I’m pretty sure I’ll do linebacker drills also once I start training,” Worilds said. “I’m pretty comfortable at either position.”

The Cataret, N.J. product is currently “a few papers” away from graduating with a degree in apparel, housing and resource management.

Worilds recorded 49 tackles during the 2009 season, including 11.0 for loss and 4.5 sacks and will leave Tech as a two-time All-ACC performer.