While much of the NFL draft focus has been on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, sources say Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor will also declare for the 2012 draft before the Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen.
Griffin responded to a text from ESPN.com on Sunday and said he has not decided, but Griffin’s father, Robert Griffin II, said Saturday night it’s a matter of when, not if.
Griffin III’s father said the Heisman Trophy winner is 12 credits short of his master’s degree but thinks he can finish it without returning to school full time.
“I met with my son (Friday) and his schedule is pretty much he will attend the Sugar Bowl here in New Orleans, then next weekend he will meet with five agents and select the right agent to represent him and plan a good pre-draft process,” Griffin II said.
PENN STATE DENIES COACHING RUMORS
Penn State insists it doesn’t have a leading candidate in its nearly two-month long search for a football coach.
USA Today and ESPN reported that New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is the top contender for the Nittany Lions job.
At a Penn State pep rally Sunday outside the Cotton Bowl, acting athletic director David Joyner cut off a reporter’s question about the reports and said, “No, don’t believe anything you read in the newspapers. I was taught that (a) long time ago.”
He answered “No,” when asked if anyone could be classified as a leading candidate.
The program has been without a permanent head coach since Nov. 9, when university trustees fired Hall of Famer Joe Paterno in the aftermath of child sex abuse charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.
Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who has been leading the team on an interim basis, has interviewed for the job. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson is also among the candidates who have interviewed.
Otherwise, the search has been the subject of a seemingly endless stream of rumors and speculation. Joyner last week said he hoped to have a replacement in time to allow for roughly three weeks to recruit before high school seniors may announce their college choices Feb. 1.
CAMERA CRASH RULED ISOLATED INCIDENT
A review has determined a camera that fell from an overhead wire during the Insight Bowl was an isolated incident.
ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said that the cause of the crashing camera during Friday night’s game has been addressed and extra precautions will be taken for the six remaining bowl games.
He said the Fiesta Bowl will not have an aerial camera tonight because of a compressed schedule due to an NFL game at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday.
The overhead camera, operated by Oklahoma-based SkyCam, fell with 2:22 remaining in the Insight Bowl between Oklahoma and Iowa. The camera didn’t hit anyone, but Iowa receiver Marvin McNutt Jr. became tangled in the guide wire and sustained a minor cut on his arm.
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