UNC TE Eric Ebron Declares Early for 2014 NFL Draft

With the regular season coming to a close for North Carolina, one if its best players in tight end Eric Ebron has decided he will take his talents to the NFL draft. The junior will forgo his senior season, according to the UNC Sports Information Dept, per WFMY News 2:

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"I've had a great time in Chapel Hill and I appreciate everything Coach Fedora and the coaching staff has done for me," said Ebron. "Coming to Carolina allowed me to develop as both a person and a football player. It was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I look forward to finishing the season with my teammates and then moving on to the next level."

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No shocker here.

Ebron is one of those players who was ready for the next level last season but wasn't eligible until he played another year in college. He stands at 6'4" and is one of the faster tight ends in the country. He's an elite receiver who catches just about everything thrown his way, and his athleticism allows him to line up just about anywhere on the field.

How many receivers can make a catch like this:

Ebron holds the school single-season and career records for receptions and receiving yards for a tight end. With just two games left in his career, he has racked up 100 receptions for 1,606 yards and eight touchdowns. Three of those touchdowns have come this season.

As for where Ebron may go in the draft, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller thinks very highly of him:

Considering this draft is loaded with elite talent, that says a lot about his ability. He must continue to work on his blocking skills, but back in October, Miller compared Ebron to one of the best tight ends in the NFL who is known for being a terrific blocker as well as a receiver:

Ebron has been a matchup nightmare in college and will likely be drafted rather early to do much of the same at the professional level. Teams are always looking for the next Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski, and Ebron has that type of potential.