Myles Jack’s UCLA days end: Linebacker leaves to prepare for NFL draft

Myles Jack has played his last football game for UCLA.

The junior linebacker was already out for the rest of this season because of a knee injury. He went a step beyond, effectively ending his college career, when he withdrew from school this week.

Jack has returned home, to Bellevue, Wash., where he will concentrate on rehabilitating his knee and preparing for the NFL draft, Coach Jim Mora said Tuesday.

“He’s taking his chips and is shoving them in the middle,” Mora said of Jack’s plan. “We hope that he draws a good hand.”

Jack was among the most dynamic football talents ever to suit up for the Bruins. As a linebacker, he had the size and power to be a force against the run and the speed and agility to cover backs and receivers in pass coverage. He was also impressive on offense as a running back, scoring 11 touchdowns in limited chances. This season, he was even used to return a kickoff.

The injury occurred during practice two weeks ago, when Jack sustained a torn meniscus. He underwent surgery the next day and was expected to require at least four months to completely recover.

Jack had one season of eligibility remaining, and could have petitioned for more based on his injury.

He informed Mora of his plans Sunday night. The coach has known Jack’s family since the player was 12.

“I have a very personal relationship with Myles and his mom and his little brother,” Mora said. “We are very close and obviously I want what’s best for him.”

But Mora clearly didn’t think the choice to leave now for the NFL was best, and said he thought the chance of Jack’s being a first-round pick was highly unlikely.

“As a guy who spent half his life in the NFL, I would move with great caution,” said Mora, who was an NFL coach for 25 years. “When you play in three games, and that’s all the tape they have on you your junior year, I have been in 25 draft rooms and I have never seen anybody taken off of that.”

Mora lauded Jack as “a tremendous football player and tremendous athlete,” but added, “I think it is very risky to do this. Having been on that side, there is going to be a lot speculation on exactly what he is and where he fits.

“As I told Myles on Sunday, NFL teams are very, very conservative. If there is any question whatsoever, they are going to pass on you in a heartbeat. They’re going to take the sure thing. I explained that to [Myles and his mother], but I felt like they had already made their decision.”

Jack carried a $5-million insurance policy to protect him against injury, but it’s not known how it pertains to his current situation or whether it figured into his decision. He could not be reached for comment.

Pac-12 Conference football coaches, reacting during their weekly teleconference with the media, spoke glowingly about Jack.

“Myles has a very high football IQ,” said USC Coach Steve Sarkisian, who got to know Jack and his family when he was the coach at Washington. “That’s what gave him the ability play defense, go over to running, return kickoffs. He is a jack of all trades. He is a big, physical guy, with great hand-eye coordination. But it is his football IQ that allows him to play fast.”

Jack’s combination of power and speed had many coaches at his doorstep when he was a senior at Bellevue High, including Arizona State’s Todd Graham.

“He was arguably one of the most dynamic players in the nation the last few years,” Graham said. “I’m impressed with anyone who plays linebacker the way he plays linebacker, and then goes over and plays tailback. He was just a phenomenal player.”

Jack burst into the national spotlight as a freshman in 2013. He was already getting noticed for his play at linebacker, but his move to tailback as a two-way player made national news.

He gained 120 yards rushing and scored a touchdown in his debut as a running back against Arizona. A week later, he scored four touchdowns against Washington.

“He did just about everything for them,” Graham said. “He was explosive and powerful and had speed. It made him a hard guy to block.

“He is pretty special.”

chris.foster@latimes.com

Twitter: @cfosterlatimes