Updated

Alabama has scheduled a news conference for Friday as a report has surfaced that defensive end Marcell Dareus is heading to the NFL.

Dareus's legal guardian, Lester Reasor, told The Birmingham News on Thursday that Dareus has decided to skip his senior season. Reasor told the newspaper that Dareus received a first-round grade from the NFL's advisory board.

A woman who answered the phone Thursday evening at Reasor's home said only that Dareus' decision "will be announced tomorrow."

Dareus was the MVP of the BCS championship game last year. He was suspended for the first two games of his junior season for accepting improper benefits from an agent.

Dareus finished this season with 34 tackles, 11 for a loss, and 4½ sacks.