MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt is leaving school early to enter the NFL draft.
In a letter to Badgers fans posted on a school website, Watt says the decision to forego his final year of eligibility and enter the draft was one of the most difficult decisions of his life — but his dream is to play in the NFL.
Watt says he “will be a Wisconsin Badger for life.”
Watt had 21 tackles for loss this season and played a leading role for a team that made it to the Rose Bowl, where the Badgers lost to TCU.
It’s another sign of offseason turnover for the Badgers. Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren was named head coach at Northern Illinois in December, and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst has been linked with an open job at Texas.
