Ole Miss wide receiver D.K. Metcalf is going pro. The redshirt sophomore will enter the NFL draft, even though a neck injury ended his 2018 season prematurely. 
“I had a month to weigh my options,” Metcalf told Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports. “I prayed to God and told Him to put the right decision in me. After meeting with Coach [Matt] Luke, they did everything they could to give me the right information, and I made my choice.”
Metcalf’s true freshman season ended after just two games thanks to a broken foot, but he returned in 2017 to average 16.6 yards per catch and score seven touchdowns. This year, he was averaging 21.9 yards per grab and notched five TDs in seven games before he was shut down for the season.
His injury history will be a concern, but he’s still expected to be among this year’s top draft prospects.
“He’s raw, but there’s a lot of upside because he’s so big and talented,” an NFL scout told Yahoo Sports. “He’ll probably go in the second round because he’s so talented. He’s going to kill workouts, and he’s a good kid and football is important to him. I’d be shocked if the health checks out if he lasts past the second round.”
Metcalf says he’ll be ready to fully participate in all football activities on Jan. 22. If he can prove that he’s healthy, the son of former NFL lineman Terrence Metcalf could find himself in the first round mix.