Damien Mama declares for the NFL draft

USC guard Damien Mama will declare for the NFL draft, Mama announced in an Instagram post Friday. 

Mama started for parts of three seasons at USC. 

Mama is not expected to be a top-round draft pick, though he could be selected in the later rounds. He was one of five USC underclassmen to request to be evaluated by NFL scouts, though USC Coach Clay Helton declined to reveal the evaluations, which list a player as a likely first-rounder, likely second-rounder or neither. 

Mama said previously that Helton had recommended he return for his senior season.

"I am indebted to those who have supported, encouraged and enriched the years that I have called USC home," Mama wrote in the Instagram post. 

Chris Brown, who will be a junior, is a front-runner to replace Mama. Brown and Mama split time early in the season. 

USC's other possible early departures, including cornerback Adoree' Jackson and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, have not announced their decisions. 

zach.helfand@latimes.com

Twitter: @zhelfand