Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - UCF quarterback Blake Bortles, fresh off helping lead the Knights to the greatest season in program history, announced Monday that he will bypass his senior year and enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bortles, the 2013 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year and MVP of the Knights' stunning 52-42 victory over sixth-ranked Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, was joined by running back Storm Johnson in declaring early for the upcoming draft.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Bortles has seen his draft stock skyrocket following an outstanding junior campaign in which he threw for 3,581 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions during UCF's 12-1, AAC-championship season. The Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist added six rushing touchdowns along with 272 yards on the ground.
Bortles compiled a 22-5 record during his two seasons as the Knights' starting signal-caller and amassed 7,598 passing yards and 56 touchdown throws during his three-year career.
The 22-year-old will be bidding to join Daunte Culpepper, selected 11th overall by Minnesota in 1999, as the second UCF quarterback to be taken in the first round.
Johnson played a major role in the Knights' unprecedented success as well, racking up 1,139 rushing yards and 17 total touchdowns as the team's feature back during his junior season. The Miami-Florida transfer gained 507 yards on 113 carries the previous season as the backup to Latavius Murray, who was drafted in the sixth round by the Oakland Raiders in 2013.
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