Syracuse running back Jerome Smith will enter the NFL Draft instead of returning to SU for his senior season, head coach Scott Shafer confirmed Friday.

Smith, a redshirt junior, tweeted the news Friday afternoon.

SU Athletics spokeswoman Sue Edson told The Daily Orange Friday night that she spoke with Shafer. Shafer said Smith is, in fact, going to the NFL, and that he “wishes him well.”

Smith did not respond to a text message earlier in the day about his decision.

The running back leads Syracuse with 840 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, and has racked up 15 career touchdowns as a member of the Orange. He kept his decision a mystery during the season, even declining to comment on the matter Thursday.

“You’re killing me, man,” Smith said when asked about the Draft on Thursday. “I’m trying to get through a week of practice. You’re giving me something that’s two weeks away. It’ll happen, man. We’ll figure it out and we’ll get to that point. Either way it’s a good situation.”

But he decided to make the news public before SU plays Minnesota in the Texas Bowl on Dec 27. Now it’s clear Smith is heading to the NFL.

—Staff writer David Wilson contributed reporting to this article

Published on December 20, 2013 at 6:02 pm

Contact Trevor: tbhass@syr.edu | @TrevorHass