Trojans’ Udeze Will Go to NFL

Kenechi Udeze, USC’s All-American junior defensive end, announced Wednesday that he would skip his final college season and make himself available for the NFL draft.

“There’s a bright future out there, and there are some doors that are open,” Udeze said in a phone interview. “It’s time to walk through them.”

Udeze, who is listed at 6 feet 4 and 285 pounds, had 16 1/2 sacks this season, tying him for the national lead with UCLA’s Dave Ball and Washington State’s D.D. Acholonu.

Udeze had four tackles for losses, including three sacks, in the Trojans’ 28-14 Rose Bowl victory over Michigan. The win kept USC atop the Associated Press media poll and helped the Trojans claim a share of their ninth national championship.

“With the great season we had and with what I was able to accomplish, I just thought it was time,” Udeze said. “It was a difficult decision to leave the coaches, my teammates, the fans, and the academics and social life at school, but it’s time to move on.”

Udeze, who will turn 21 in March, has begun training for the NFL scouting combine that will be held next month in Indianapolis. The NFL draft is April 24 and 25.

Udeze finished his career with 28 sacks, 51 tackles for a loss, 14 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, four deflections and two blocked field goals.

On Monday, after Udeze’s family met with Coach Pete Carroll and defensive line coach Ed Orgeron to discuss his options, Udeze said he was leaning toward turning pro but would take a few days to make a final decision.

On Wednesday, he made it official, thanking Carroll and the USC staff for helping him grow up and become an NFL prospect. Udeze also said that he intended to complete his degree in sociology at some point.

“I’m disappointed he’s going out, but I understand how it works,” Carroll said. “He’s had a great career at USC, and he’s taken his time at this. He’s done a good job going through the process. So we wish him luck.”

Known to teammates and coaches as BKU (Big Kenechi Udeze), the muscular Udeze came a long way from the 355-pound player he was at Verbum Dei High.

After losing weight and redshirting in 2000, Udeze started 10 games in 2001. He made 35 tackles, including four sacks.

In 2002, he started all 13 games and helped lead the Trojans to an Orange Bowl victory over Iowa. Udeze finished the season with 44 tackles, and had 7 1/2 sacks among his 16 tackles for losses.

“I always hoped he would play for four years,” Orgeron said by phone. “He’s been a solid performer with his pass rushing ability and the way he played the run.

“We need to find someone with that kind of playmaking ability.”

Van Brown, who will be a senior next season, and Chris Barrett, who will be a redshirt freshman, are possible replacements for Udeze. Manuel Wright, a true freshman who had a sack and broke up a pass against Michigan, also could move from tackle to end to replace Udeze.