COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Speedy wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, the second-leading receiver for Ohio State, said Thursday he will not return for his senior season and will enter the NFL draft.
"Obviously, it's the toughest thing I've ever had to do in my life," the 6-foot, 195-pounder said at an emotional news conference in the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.
He had asked an NFL committee to assess his draft standing and was told he was a second-round pick.
Two other Buckeyes are contemplating jumping to the NFL a year early. Tailback Antonio Pittman will announce his decision Monday at his Akron high school. Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. has not yet made up his mind, his father said Thursday.
Another junior on offense, tackle Kirk Barton, said last month that he will remain for his final season.
Befitting a philosophy major, Gonzalez said he carefully weighed the pros and cons for leaving early and for staying.
"Basically, the best-case scenario of leaving would be maybe you sneak into the first round. The worst-case scenario, maybe you fall down some draft boards. Am I OK with the worst-case scenario there? Yes, I guess I am," he said.
"The reality of the game of football is the worst-case scenario is I could show up the first day of spring ball and something terrible could happen and I may never be able to play this game and fulfill all the dreams that I wanted to," he said.
An Academic All-American, Gonzalez was an All-Big Ten selection. He finished the season with 51 receptions for 734 yards and eight touchdowns.
Gonzalez said the 41-14 loss on Monday to Florida in the national championship game did not affect his decision. He also said it did not matter whether other teammates in his class were coming back.
"It came down to whether I felt I was ready and whether this was the right thing to do," said Gonzalez, who had two catches -- half of Ohio State's meager total -- for 11 yards in the game in Glendale, Ariz.