Alabama junior linebacker Rolando McClain announced Monday that he would apply to enter the 2010 NFL Draft, the team said in a press release. The Butkus Award winner was a 2009 team captain and led the Crimson Tide in total tackles in each of the last two seasons.
McClain was a unanimous first-team All-American this season and started at linebacker for Alabama the last three years. The Decatur, Ala. native is just the second Crimson Tide player to win the Butkus Award, joining Derrick Thomas (1988).
McClain said, "I've decided in the best interests of myself and my family and with the support of Coach Saban that I'm going to enter the NFL draft this year."
Alabama coach Nick Saban noted, "I'm not letting out any secrets here, but he is a projected first-round pick. Everybody here knows my philosophy on guys coming out early for the draft, that if you're projected to be that, that's something that I can support you on."