LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater will forgo his senior season with the No. 18 Cardinals and enter the NFL draft. Projected as a first-round selection and possibly the first QB taken this spring, Bridgewater completed 71 per cent of passes for 3,970 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns this season, including a career-best 447 yards with three TDs in Saturdays 36-9 rout of Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl. Bridgewater said in a release that the decision "was extremely difficult," but added that attending Louisville "was one of the best decisions I could have ever made." With Bridgewater starting, the Cardinals won 27 games and tied a school record with this years 12-1 finish. Despite some lacklustre efforts following a loss to Central Florida, Louisville entered the bowl game with the nations 18th-ranked passing game at nearly 303 yards per game and 34th in total offence at 453.1. Bridgewaters career highlight was last years 33-23 Sugar Bowl upset of Florida in which the 6-foot-3, 196-pound Miami native earned MVP honours after passing for 266 yards and two TDs. His decision wasnt surprising considering he began the season as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate before those prospects dropped with the October loss to UCF that also ended the Cardinals chances of winning the inaugural American Athletic Conference championship. However, Bridgewaters pro stock remained steady and even gained steam down the stretch after he rallied Louisville past Cincinnati with a gutsy 14-yard scramble on fourth-and-12 and an off-balance 22-yard TD pass to Damian Copeland in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals won 31-24 in overtime to clinch the Russell Athletic bowl bid. Bridgewater consistently remained coy about his future, even after leading the Cardinals to their second consecutive bowl win. Late in the season, Louisville coach Charlie Strong even suggested the possibility that his star quarterback might return for his final year. But after talking with his family and Louisvilles coaching staff, Bridgewater chose the option that was long expected. He leaves as Louisvilles No. 3 career passer with 9,817 yards and 72 TDs against 24 interceptions. His 68.3 per cent completion rate is a school record. "These past three years have allowed me to mature as a person and leave the university as better person and with my degree in hand, which was one of my goals," Bridgewater said in the statement. "I will cherish every moment on the field and off the field, and every bond that I built. I will forever represent the university with the utmost pride and respect." Waiting in the wings to succeed Bridgewater are redshirt freshman Will Gardner, freshman Kyle Bolin, and junior Brett Nelson. Kari... Rekik Manchester City Jersey . 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Instead, coming off their worst outing of the season, the Leafs will have to rise as a collective unit to withstand this latest bout of adversity.NASHVILLE -- James Franklin appears to have a decision to make. Stay at Vanderbilt or take over as coach at Penn State. Vanderbilt athletic director David Williams said Thursday night he exchanged text messages with his football coach and Franklin "basically said that he is our coach. He hasnt made a decision." Williams would not confirm Franklin has an offer from Penn State, but has indicated Nittany Lions officials have been in contact with the coach. CBS.com was first among several media outlets to report Franklin is expected to be Penn States replacement for Bill OBrien, who left for the Houston Texans. "He just wanted me to know that the things that are being said that he has made a decision to leave are not true," Williams said Penn State had no official comment, but the university did announce Thursday night that a new compensation committee is scheduled to meet Saturday morning in a closed session to discuss a contract for someone not yet being identified by the school. The school also said there will be a brief public session Saturday morning. Earlier in the day Williams said Franklin had called "to let me know the reports that he had accepted another job were inaccurate. And I didnt ask anything more than that nor did he volunteer anything more than that." Williams said he met with Franklin on Tuesday night and spoke with him Wednesday, too. Penn State interim coach Larry Johnson said Thursday night he hasnt been told anything about his future. "Im still the interim coach until a new coach is named," Johnson said. "As of right now, Im continuing to do my part." Vanderbilt had only one winning season since 1982 before Williamms hired Franklin in December 2010.ddddddddddddThe Commodores also had only four bowl berths before Franklin arrived, and he now has taken them to three straight bowls. The 41-year-old Pennsylvania native is 24-15 in his three seasons as Vanderbilts head coach, matching Dan McGugin for the most wins in school history over a coachs first three seasons. The Commodores are 16-4 over the past 20 games, second in the SEC only to Alabama. Vanderbilt won the final seven games of 2012 and the final five of 2013 in a stretch that also includes back-to-back bowl wins. Vanderbilt has gone 9-4 and finished in the final Associated Press rankings each of the past two seasons, including No. 24 in the poll released Tuesday. Vanderbilt hadnt finished in the final AP poll before Franklin arrived since 1948 under Red Sanders. Franklin was given a contract extension in December 2012 designed to keep him at Vanderbilt for years to come. Asked if Vanderbilt has worked to restructure Franklins deal since the Commodores beat Houston in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Jan. 4, Williams said they have an ongoing process to remain competitive. "We think that we had a good season and a successful season, and we constantly reward people for that," Williams said. OBrien guided the Nittany Lions through two seasons of severe NCAA sanctions after taking over for the late Joe Paterno and went 17-9. Miamis Al Golden drew interest from Penn State during this search, though he stated Saturday he intended to stay with the school. Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak, a former Penn State offensive lineman, and 49ers offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman also have reportedly gotten a look from Penn State. cheap nfl jerseys wholesale nfl jerseys wholesale nfl jerseys cheap nfl jerseys cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '