Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets DB Jerrard Tarrant will skip his senior season and enter the 2011 NFL Draft, the school’s athletic department announced via Twitter. The Carrolton native has 110 career tackles, five interceptions, and two punt return touchdowns.
This decision is not quite as big a head-scratcher as was Nick Claytor’s, but it still appears ill-advised. Tarrant has been mentioned as a potential late-round pick, and his special teams skills will certainly attract a few more eyeballs, as will his experience at playing both safety and cornerback.
He’s big (six-foot-one, 205 pounds) and athletic, but he’s got his work cut out for him if he’s going to hear his name called. When asked why he’s entered the draft, Tarrant told Coley Harvey, “Sometimes it’s just time to move on.”
Last year four Jackets left school early. Three of them were very happy with their decisions, while Jonathan Dwyer saw himself tumble into the sixth round. For Tarrant, being drafted in the sixth would be a happy result. Really hope he proves me wrong here.