BYU football: Collie's next route: the NFL

PROVO — Austin Collie missed almost all of fall camp in August due to a stress fracture in his right knee. He started the season slowly, but by December, he had turned in the best single-season receiving performance in BYU history and become the school's all-time leading receiver.

Now, Collie says he's ready to see what he can do at the next level.

During a news conference Friday morning at Legends Grille on BYU's campus, Collie, dressed in a suit and tie, announced his intentions to forgo his senior season and enter the National Football League draft in April.

"After the year that I had and the success that I had, I feel like I'm ready to take on the next challenge," he said. "I don't know what will happen, but I feel pretty confident in my decision and what's in store for me in the future."

Collie's pro prospects were evaluated by an NFL advisory committee, but he declined to discuss that evaluation publicly.

"It's information I'm going to keep between me and my family and coach (Bronco) Mendenhall about what it says. I do realize it is the NFL and anything can happen," said Collie, who is older than most college juniors because he served an LDS mission from 2004-2006. "It's a choice I feel comfortable making. I'm just looking to make an NFL team. It's been my dream. Always has. I feel that it's the right time."

Collie is one of numerous wide receivers who are leaving school early for this year's draft, along with Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Missouri's Jeremy Maclin. According to mock drafts, Collie is projected to be a middle-round selection.

While Collie has wanted to play in the NFL since he was seven years old, he said he didn't start seriously thinking about turning pro early until just prior to the Las Vegas Bowl. In addition to receiving feedback from the advisory committee, Collie discussed his options with Mendenhall, his family (including his father, Scott, a former BYU receiver, and his brother, Zac, another former Cougar who spent time in training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles a couple of years ago) as well as former BYU players who have NFL experience.

"It's the toughest decision I've ever had to make because I love it here. I love BYU," Collie said. "I know the team is capable of huge things next year. Do I want to be a part of that? Yeah, I would love to be a part of that. But I have a feeling that this is the best time for me to move on with my life and start something new. I love the guys I played with. I have created some relationships here that I will never forget. I love my coaching staff and all my coaches and what they've done for me, helping me get to where I need to get. I'm so appreciative of them and especially coach Mendenhall and what he's done for me."