AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas running back D'Onta Foreman has signed with an agent and will enter the NFL draft after leading the nation in rushing with 2,028 yards this season.
Foreman, a junior, surpassed 100 rushing yards in each of his past 13 games at Texas and became the second 2,000-yard rusher in school history, joining Ricky Williams. He announced his decision to go pro on Wednesday.
"I had a wonderful season," Foreman said. "I've got to try to strike while the iron's hot."
Foreman is ranked No. 18 among Todd McShay's top 32 NFL draft prospects and No. 3 among running back prospects behind LSU's Leonard Fournette and Florida State's Dalvin Cook.
Foreman has received early feedback that he could be a late-first- or second-round pick, a source close to Foreman told ESPN. He signed with Select Sports Group on Tuesday.
Texas finished 5-7 this season and fired coach Charlie Strong on Saturday. Foreman said he would go pro even if Strong had been retained. New Texas coach Tom Herman met with Foreman this week and supported his decision.
"For me not to be able to be with those guys and try to get this thing heading in the right direction again, it was definitely a hard decision for me," Foreman said.
Foreman, a finalist for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation's top running back, rushed for his 2,028 yards in only 11 games and scored 15 touchdowns. He said Wednesday he believes he deserves to be a finalist for the Heisman Trophy.
"I definitely feel like I should be in New York," Foreman said. "We didn't put up the wins we should have, but I was consistently productive for my team. I did everything I could to help us win. I feel like I'm just as good as those guys. I feel like I should be up there with a chance to win."
When asked which NFL franchise he hopes to play for, Foreman replied: "To be honest, anybody who'll give me some money."
