One of the key figures in the rise of Notre Dame 's defense under Brian Kelly has confirmed he will enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
Defensive end Stephon Tuitt told Sports Illustrated Sunday that he will forgo his final season of eligibility in South Bend, joining fellow Irish defensive lineman Louis Nix, who signed with an agent in December. The two juniors were the foundation of an Irish defensive line that led the team to the 2013 BCS Championship Game and a No. 30 ranking in yards allowed per-play in the 2013 season.
"I'm ready to take my game to another level," Tuitt told SI. "All I did was work out pros and cons, and that helped me realize I have more pros than cons and I'm ready to go. I'm comfortable and confident and I'm ready to take this step for me."
A four-star, top-50 recruit in the Class of 2011 from Monroe, Ga., the 6-foot-6, 312-pound Tuitt lived up to the hype and then some, garnering All-American honors after a sophomore season that saw him record 11 sacks and 11 tackles-for-loss, both team highs.
Though slowed at times by injury in 2013, Tuitt still led the team in both categories again, posting 7.5 sacks and 9 tackles-for-loss.
Tuitt is widely expected to be chosen in the first round of April's draft, CBSSports.com's Rob Rang currently projecting him as to be selected as early as the No. 14 pick.
