Myles Jack Comments on Injury, Decision to Enter 2016 NFL Draft

UCLA linebacker Myles Jack said Thursday that a driving force behind his decision to enter the 2016 NFL draft is receiving compensation for his play. He also stated that any problems between himself and Bruins head coach Jim Mora have been solved.

Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com passed along comments Jack made during an appearance on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike morning show. The linebacker considered his options after suffering a season-ending knee injury, and going back to school just didn't sit right with him.   

"When you see people making money off of your likeness and your name...nobody else wears No. 30 at UCLA. That jersey is mine," Jack said. "I would like to receive compensation for what I've done. That's definitely something you're thinking about. I took all of that into consideration."

Mora had publicly questioned whether making the decision to go pro now is wise. As somebody who spent time in the NFL as everything from a position coach to a head coach, Mora wasn't convinced it was the right move, per Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times.

"I think it is very risky to do this," Mora said. "Having been on that side, there is going to be a lot speculation on exactly what he is and where he fits."

Jack admitted on Mike and Mike those remarks caught him off guard. He's since met with Mora, however, and there are no lingering issues between them.

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

"When the comments came out, I was definitely surprised," Jack said. "But I talked to him [Wednesday] afternoon and we ironed out any wrinkles or any misunderstandings that we had. ... Me and him are cool. We definitely patched things up if there are any misunderstandings. He reiterated that he supports me 1,000 percent."

The 20-year-old rising star, who's played running back and in the defensive backfield in addition to his standout work at linebacker, told Mike and Mike making the decision now allows him to move forward. He can focus on getting back to full strength and then preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine.

"I felt like I had done enough at UCLA," Jack said. "I felt like I had done it. In regards to my injury, I wanted to have the best training possible and put myself in the best position to be ready for the combine. That's pretty much where I was at. I wanted to make the right decision. And it was definitely a tough one. If it was up to me, I'd be out there playing right now."

The combine takes on a greater emphasis now. Teams will want to see whether he's still showcasing the same type of explosiveness after a serious knee injury. In turn, his draft stock will likely swing more than most prospects' based purely on that group of tests.

For now, his draft stock is very much up in the air. Based on CBS Sports' projections, Dane Brugler still has Jack as a mid-first-round selection, while Rob Rang doesn't have him going in Round 1. Uncertainty will reign supreme until those combine workouts are complete.

Jack certainly illustrated the ability to develop into a high-impact linebacker during his time at UCLA, and nobody can question a player's desire to get paid for his talents. That said, he must prove himself during the offseason to get selected early in next April's draft.