Notre Dame QB DeShone Kizer decides to declare for NFL draft

Notre Dame redshirt sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer has declared for the NFL draft, the school announced.

"Thank you. NFL bound," Kizer said toward the end of a minute-long video on Bleacher Report.

Kizer started the past 23 games for the Fighting Irish, with a 12-11 record. He threw for 5,809 yards with 47 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, adding 992 rushing yards and 18 more scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Kizer assumed the starting role in the third game of the 2015 season, replacing Malik Zaire after Zaire suffered a broken ankle against Virginia in Week 2. Kizer threw a game-winning touchdown pass and never looked back, starting every Irish contest since.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said in fall camp this season that with Zaire back from injury, both he and Kizer would see extensive time in the season opener at Texas. After Kizer outplayed Zaire in the loss, however, that plan was scrapped, with Kizer assuming full-time duties the rest of the season.

Zaire has said he will transfer elsewhere for his fifth college season in 2017.

Kizer was voted the Irish's MVP by his teammates at Friday's program awards banquet and named a captain for 2017.

"DeShone is an extremely gifted quarterback that was faced with a difficult decision," Kelly said Monday in a release. "He could return as a senior captain at Notre Dame -- a place that he loves, and with a program that respects him immensely. Or, he could begin the next chapter in his life and accept the opportunity that likely awaits in the NFL.

"While he chose the latter, the type of leadership DeShone displayed this past season will benefit our program moving forward. He'll certainly be missed on and off the field, but we're very happy for him and his family. DeShone will always represent this University with the utmost professionalism and class."

Neither Scouts Inc.'s Todd McShay nor ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. have Kizer on their latest draft boards, which are capped at 32 and 25 players, respectively. Kiper recently wrote that Kizer "has to go back to school," with McShay adding: "Mel is right, Kizer needs another year."

The lack of surefire upperclassmen quarterbacks in the 2017 class, however, could prove beneficial for Kizer, who was considered a late-bloomer in high school because of a well-rounded sports background that included four-year stints on both the baseball and basketball teams.

Kizer tweeted a statement Monday thanking Notre Dame for its support the past three years.