It seemed almost a foregone conclusion that Friday night’s Sugar Bowl would be the final game of Joe Haden‘s collegiate career.
Following the game, one of the cornerback’s Florida teammates, fellow corner Markihe Anderson, said the decision has indeed been made and Haden is a lock to make himself available for the NFL draft. It’s so much of a lock, in fact, that the two are already making plans to train together.
“He’s gone,” Anderson said. “Joe’s going to be great (in the NFL). He’s going to do well. The kind of player that he is and the competitive edge that he has and the expectations he has for himself, he’s going to do real well.”
Haden, however, dispute’s his friend’s claims.
“I don’t know for sure yet,” Haden said. “I don’t know what Markihe’s talking about. He probably thinks I am because of what he’s seen in the papers, but I don’t know yet.”
That’s all well and good, but it would be a stunning surprise of epic proportions if Haden -- along with at least a couple of other eligible Gators -- did not declare his NFL intentions in the coming days.
He’s arguably the top corner in the country right now, and would seem to be a near-certainty to be taken in the top 15 of the draft if he elects to make the leap.
