01/02/06

HESTER TO ANNOUNCE FUTURE PLANS:
Coral Gables, FL... Miami Hurricanes junior DEVIN HESTER, who has played a variety of positions, including defensive back, wide receiver, running back and return man, will hold a press conference on Monday afternoon at the Doral Ale House in Miami, starting at 4pm to announce his future intentions... Hester spent most of the weekend with his mom and family discussing the pros and cons of returning to school or entering the NFL Draft... "It was a tough loss for us against LSU, so I had to deal with that first, and then come home and settle down to make a good decision for myself using my head and not my heart", explained Hester, who was used on the offensive side of the ball during the Hurricanes' 40-3 loss in last Friday's Peach Bowl... so far in his three-year career he has led the team with four interceptions, as sophomore... has scored a total of seven special teams touchdowns, which includes 100-yard kickoff return and 92-yard punt return... widely regarded as the nation's top-rated player coming out of high school (2002) he has also been a standout member of the school's track & field team, capturing the Big East Indoor Long Jump title last year... he's been timed at-or-below 4.30 in the 40-yard dash and continues to receive expert advice/training from long-time mentor Deion Sanders... exclusive coverage, including quotes from Hester, as well as others in attendance will be made available tomorrow afternoon following the live press conference.

CROMARTIE HITTING THE BOOKS OR HEADING TO NFL:
Tallahassee, FL… Florida State junior cornerback/return man ANTONIO CROMARTIE, who has been sidelined for the entire 2005 college football campaign due to a knee injury he suffered over the summer, is currently investigating the potential of jumping to the NFL Draft after playing just two years with the Seminoles… according to several sources close to the team he has requested his current NFL draft grade, as he continues to complete his rehab from a torn ACL… the 6-foot-3, 210-pound defender has been a duel threat thus far in his career, recording several long kickoff and punt returns, while also being named the team's Most Improved Defensive Back in the spring… his unique combination of size, speed and play-making ability from the cornerback spot could vault him into the first round of either of the next two drafts, but it is his current academic standing at the school that remains in question… those same sources point out that while he completed the most recent semester with passing grades it was not without a few worrisome moments… he does not seem to be a huge fan of going to class, has some long-term academic questions in terms of his eligibility come the spring semester, and may also have some lingering thoughts about suffering a second major injury at the college level… Cromartie has displayed first-round ability, so if he were to prove healthy enough to workout for scouts he could re-capture that type grade should he opt into the draft.