Fitzgerald Is Eligible Too

Heisman Trophy runner-up Larry Fitzgerald, the Pittsburgh sophomore who set NCAA receiving records in his two college seasons, was declared eligible Thursday for the NFL draft.

The NFL’s ruling came on the same day a federal judge opened the door for running back Maurice Clarett to also turn pro despite playing only one season at Ohio State.

Under league rules, a player must be in college for three NFL seasons before he can be drafted. Fitzgerald left the Academy of Holy Angels in Minneapolis midway through his senior year in 2001 and transferred to Valley Forge (Pa.) Military Academy to boost his grades for college.

After spending nearly 1 1/2 academic years there, Fitzgerald signed with Pittsburgh and became the most productive receiver in school history.

NFL scouts have projected Fitzgerald as a top-five pick in the April draft.