Sun Jan 13 20:32:19 2008

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Report: WVU RB Slaton to declare for NFL Draft

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Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - West Virginia running back Steve Slaton will reportedly forgo his senior year and enter the NFL Draft.

Carl Slaton, Steve's father, told the Philadelphia Daily News on Saturday that his son will not return next year for the Mountaineers. The younger Slaton ran for 3,923 yards and scored 55 touchdowns in three seasons at West Virginia.

Slaton topped 1,000 yards on the ground in each of his collegiate campaigns. He ran for 1,128 yards as a freshman, and was the MVP of the 2006 Sugar Bowl after a 26-carry, 204-yard performance that led West Virginia to an upset of Georgia.

Slaton finished fourth in the voting for the 2006 Heisman Trophy after rushing for 1,744 yards on 248 carries as a sophomore.

His carries dropped this season, however, to 211, as he gained 1,051 yards. That, and head coach Rich Rodriguez's departure for the head coaching position at Michigan, apparently led to Slaton's decision to leave.