Utah defensive end Paul Kruger is turning pro. The sophomore, who helped the second-ranked Utes go 13-0 and win the Sugar Bowl this season, has opted to give up his final two years of college eligibility and enter the upcoming National Football League Draft.

Kruger released the following announcement Sunday night from Florida, where he is training:

"I am issuing this statement after much prayer, consideration and evaluation with my family in announcing that I have decided to forgo my final years of eligibility and enter the 2009 NFL Draft.

"This past year I have been honored to be a part of this very special group of teammates and coaches at the University of Utah. I have cherished what has been my amazing college experience.

"Finishing this 2008 football season undefeated and having the privilege to get to play under someone as special as coach Kyle Whittingham has been a lifelong dream fulfilled.

"Now it is my journey to pursue another lifelong dream which is to become a professional football player in the National Football League.

"This decision is one of the toughest that I have ever had to make. As I reflect on the University of Utah, my teammates, all of my coaches, the football staff and most importantly the Utes fans. . . I am filled with humility and deep gratitude. These past years at Utah have been a tremendous learning and growing experience for me. I want to thank everyone at the University and all the Utes everywhere for their support.

"It is my hope in making this decision that the fans, coaches, teammates, and the Utah athletic department will continue to support me and my family as I take this next step in attaining my goals.

"My heart belongs to Utah. And I wish continued prosperity and success to my Utah Utes!

Yours truly, Paul Kruger"

Kruger led the Utes with 16.5 tackles-for-loss and seven sacks. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder earned first-team, all-conference honors.

"He's the whole package. I think he came a long ways this last year in learning how to prepare to play — not just against an offensive lineman, but to play the offense to be faced and having to deal with people double-teaming him," said Utah State coach Gary Andersen, who was Kruger's defensive coordinator at Utah. "So his ability to prepare mentally greatly improved this last year and obviously, physically, he has it all."

Andersen added that Kruger has a youthfulness to him and his best days as a player are still ahead of him. Though he'll turn 23 next month, the former Timpanogos High quarterback has yet to experience a full offseason of training. Kruger redshirted his first season at Utah before serving an LDS Church mission. Last January, he was stabbed in the abdomen by unknown assailants while leaving a gathering in a Salt Lake neighborhood. He needed emergency surgery but eventually made a full recovery — surpassing the on-field contributions he made as a freshman All-American.

"He's got great speed. He's got great strength. He's got great athleticism," Andersen said. "Those three things combined are a very, very, very wicked combination, for sure."