Penn St LB Bowman to skip senior year, enter draft

Published Jan. 5, 2010 3:11 p.m. ET

foxsports

Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman will skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

The junior had 86 tackles with a team-high 17 for a loss in combining with seniors Sean Lee and Josh Hull to form one of the country's top linebacking units.

Bowman wore No. 11, the same jersey worn by his mentor, former Nittany Lions linebacker LaVar Arrington. His highlight-reel plays also reminded fans of Arrington, including a 73-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 91-yard TD return after a fumble recovery.

Bowman's decision was not unexpected. His mother, Johncie Bowman, told the York Daily Record that her son, who is a fourth-year junior, has his degree and feels ready for the NFL.

ESPN.com first reported Bowman's decision.