Bishop Sankey will declare for 2014 NFL Draft

Washington's Bishop Sankey is headed to the NFL after an excellent junior season.

By Mark Sandritter Dec 30, 2013, 7:33pm EST

Bishop Sankey will forgo his senior season at Washington and enter the 2014 NFL Draft, according to Joe Schad of ESPN.

Sankey rushed for 1,870 yards during his junior season, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. He was the focal point of Washington's offense, carrying 327 times. The workload played a role in his decision to enter the draft.

"The time is right," Sankey said, via Joe Schad. "I've proven what I needed to prove. I have to look at the position I play and the number of carries."

Sankey received an evaluation from the NFL and was given a third-round grade, according to the Seattle Times. He said he would talk to his family and new Washington head coach Chris Petersen before making a decision. He rushed for at least 175 yards four times this season, including a 241-yard performance against California.

He is the No. 2 running back prospect and the No. 52 prospect overall, according to Mocking the Draft. He could move up both of those lists soon with some underclassmen yet to declare. Sankey may not jump off the page at pre-draft workouts as his running success is based more on his agility and vision than pure top-flight speed. If he is able to run a faster 40-yard dash than expected, it could be a significant boost to his stock.

Sankey is the second Husky to declare for the draft early, joining tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. Sankey was a 4-star prospect coming out of high school. He initially committed to Washington State before flipping his commitment to Washington.