BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU running back Jeremy Hill said Monday that he intends to enter the NFL draft, contradicting recent reports that he would return for his junior season.
"I am a Tiger for life. I will forever be grateful to my LSU fans, friends, coaches and family. This decision has been very difficult for me," Hill posted on his Twitter account before announcing his decision in the following tweet.
With all of that being said, I have decided to forego my Junior season and enter the 2014 NFL Draft. #GeauxTigers #33ToTheNFL #Blessed
— Jeremy Hill (@JeremyHill33) January 13, 2014
In addition, guard Trai Turner decided Monday to forgo his final two seasons and enter the draft.
Hill and Turner join teammates Ego Ferguson, Anthony Johnson, Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham in the draft pool, a year after the Tigers lost 11 players to early entry. With Wednesday's early-entry deadline looming, offensive lineman La'El Collins has yet to officially reveal his decision.
A draft-eligible sophomore, Hill rushed for 1,401 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2013 -- a total that ranked second in the SEC and second all time at LSU. He rushed for a career-high 216 yards and two touchdowns in LSU's season-ending Outback Bowl win against Iowa.
Hill's strong season began in earnest after a judge ruled in August that he would not serve jail time on a probation violation for punching a fellow LSU student outside a bar. Hill had been suspended from the team, but coach Les Miles allowed Hill to rejoin the Tigers after Hill met with teammates and they voted to allow him back.
The Baton Rouge native's college career was delayed one season by criminal charges stemming from his sexual relationship with a girl at his high school, which resulted in a misdemeanor plea and two years' probation.
Hill's departure creates an opportunity for Leonard Fournette, ESPN's No. 1 overall prospect who recently committed to the Tigers, to compete with Terrence Magee (626 yards, eight TDs in 2013) for a starting job this fall.
Fournette starred in high school for St. Augustine in New Orleans and was selected Louisiana's 2013 Mr. Football.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.