Tulloch to skip senior season

NCSU linebacker will make himself available for the NFL draft after strong bowl showing

Junior linebacker Stephen Tulloch, the MVP of N.C. State's Meineke Car Care Bowl victory over South Florida, will forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, the school said Friday.

Tulloch is the second Wolfpack junior to decide this week to leave school early for the pros, following defensive end Mario Williams. State will have to replace at least five defensive starters from this season's 7-5 team.

That number could rise to six should junior defensive tackle John McCargo also decide to enter the draft.

Tulloch flew home to Miami immediately after the New Year's Eve bowl game but was back in Raleigh on Friday to retrieve his possessions, according to assistant athletics director for media relations Annabelle Vaughan.

Neither Tulloch nor coach Chuck Amato was available for comment.

Williams is expected to be among the first 10 picks in the draft, but Tulloch's draft stock is uncertain. He is undersized for an NFL linebacker at a listed height of 5 feet 11.

A first-team All-ACC performer this season, Tulloch ranked second in the league and 12th nationally in tackles with 134 as an outside linebacker. He also had 21 tackles for loss.

In the bowl game, Tulloch had 15 tackles, including three sacks. He also forced and recovered a fumble in State's 14-0 victory.

Linebacker Ernest Jones, a sophomore this past season, could be a leading candidate to replace Tulloch.