Tight ending

After Orange Bowl, All-American Winslow leaves Miami early for NFL

Kellen Winslow finished the 2003 regular season with 60 receptions. AP

MIAMI (AP) -- All-America tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. will forgo his senior season at Miami and enter the NFL Draft.

Winslow, the son of NFL Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, caught five passes for 48 yards in Miami's 16-14 victory against rival Florida State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night. He also partially blocked a punt and had several key blocks during big running plays.

After the game, Winslow said he had not decided on his future, but coach Larry Coker said Friday that Winslow will not return.

He is the third Miami underclassmen to declare for the draft, joining All-America safety Sean Taylor and defensive tackle Vince Wilfork.

""I kind of left it up to them," Coker said. "It's their careers. But Kellen is going to go and should go."

Winslow could not be reached for comment Friday.

A 6-foot-5, 250-pound, ultra-confident receiver from southern California, Winslow finished the season with 60 receptions for 605 yards and a touchdown. He won the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's best tight end after a controversy-filled season.

He was criticized for nicknaming himself "The Chosen One" this fall and for striking a Heisman Trophy pose in the season opener. He was labeled selfish for saying he should be a bigger part of the offense. Then there was his highly publicized "soldier" rant after losing to Tennessee in November.

He also was benched to start a game after several unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

"I'm the son of my father. I have a lot to live up to," he said last week. "There's cameras on me all the time. Everybody is watching me. So I think sometimes I'm misunderstood."