National Football League

Florida K Eddy Pineiro leaving school early for NFL draft

Published Dec. 19, 2017 8:51 p.m. ET

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) Florida's Eddy Pineiro, the most accurate kicker in program history, is leaving school early and entering the NFL draft.

The fourth-year junior from Coral Gables made the announcement via Twitter on Tuesday.

Pineiro made 29 of his last 30 field-goal attempts, including 17 of 18 this past season. His 94.4 percent success rate in 2017 led the nation. He converted 38 of 43 field-goal attempts (88.4 percent) in two seasons, tops in program history.

Pineiro says ''it was a difficult decision, but going to the NFL has always been a dream of mine. I did some research and just thought the timing was right.''

He finished 12th nationally in touchbacks this season, with 39 of his 50 kickoffs downed in the end zone. That 79-percent clip led the Southeastern Conference.

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