Colorado State has already said goodbye to its head coach of the past three seasons, and now the team is saying farewell to its starting tailback.
Rams running back Dee Hart confirmed to the Loveland Reporter-Herald that he is moving on to the NFL.
"I'm going to declare for the draft," Hart said, per the Reporter-Herald. "It was just a dream I always had growing up, and it's an opportunity I have this season, so I want to take advantage of it."
Hart said that while he submitted paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Board last month, he has not yet received the board's feedback.
The Alabama transfer played only one season for Colorado State, leading the team with 1,275 yards rushing while scoring 16 touchdowns. He becomes the second straight starter at the position for the Rams to declare early after Kapri Bibbs did the same after the 2013 season. Hart said he will train for the draft by himself in Tampa, Fla.
"I think Colorado State went out on a limb and took me in (as) a student and a player, it was a risk for them as well," Hart said. "They didn't know what I was going to be able to come in and do. I think it worked for both of us this season. It helped me, giving me the confidence back that I could play with the guys I used to play with."
The 5-foot-9, 190-pounder does not have the prototypical size one associates with the position, but he is a tough downhill runner who was labeled as a workhorse during his time at Colorado State after churning out yards on his way to second-team All-Mountain West honors.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.
