Drew Expected to Go Professional Route

UCLA running back Maurice Drew is expected to declare himself eligible for the NFL draft today at a news conference in Concord, Calif., a family source said Friday.

His announcement would be a big blow to the Bruins, who are already losing quarterback Drew Olson and top receiver Marcedes Lewis, both seniors who have completed their athletic eligibility. Combined, the three accounted for 48 of 53 offensive and special teams touchdowns in 2005, and nearly 75% of the Bruins’ total offense during the regular season.

Eligible underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to make official their intent to enter the draft. Drew could not be reached for comment Friday, but the family member said his announcement would be made at De La Salle High, where he was a prep star for the nation’s top-rated team.

Drew, a 5-foot-8, 205-pound junior, has been UCLA’s top rusher the past three seasons. He ran for 582 yards in 2003, 1,007 yards as a sophomore, and 914 yards and 13 touchdowns this season as the Bruins went 10-2 and finished the season ranked No. 16 by the Associated Press.

This season, he averaged a Division I-A record 28.5 yards on 15 punt returns, including three for touchdowns.

In a 36-game college career, Drew scored 39 touchdowns -- 16 of 40 yards or more -- including four punt returns and two kickoff returns. His 4,655 career all-purpose yards are a school record.

Drew’s intentions drew a mixed reaction from NFL sources, who placed him in the draft anywhere from late in the first round to early in the third round.

“His stock will likely be determined by his speed and his history of getting hurt, but I like him,” a scout for an NFL playoff team said. “He’s a football player.”

An AFC running backs coach said: “I know that a lot of teams like him, especially because he’s a game-breaker as a kick-return specialist. He can definitely be a third-down type of back and who knows? In time, he could be an every-down player like [Ladainian Tomlinson].”

Then there was this from an NFL executive, who predicted Drew would be taken late in the second round or early in the third: “He’d be a heck of a returner and he’d have to play a certain role in the offense where he’s a second back, a third-down back, what we call a change-of-pace back. His role would be more to complement a feature back. The thing about Drew is that he’s really fast, he has a low center of gravity and great balance and vision. The one thing he’s missing is the size.”

Drew, a first-team All-American this season as an all-purpose runner, did not have a great game in the Bruins’ victory over Northwestern in the Sun Bowl last month. He suffered a mild left shoulder separation returning a kickoff in the first quarter and finished with only 14 yards rushing. His backups, Chris Markey and Kahlil Bell, combined to rush for 197 yards and three touchdowns.

After the game, Drew, who also caught two passes for 29 yards and returned a punt for 20, said, “It’s back to the grind” as he left the UCLA locker room with his left arm in a sling.

If Drew leaves early, Markey, Bell and Derrick Williams will handle running back duties in spring practice. UCLA officials said Coach Karl Dorrell would comment after Drew’s announcement.