Vancouver native Christian Covington will declare early for the NFL draft.  The redshirt junior defensive tackle from Rice University played seven games in 2014, finishing with 20 tackles and three sacks before undergoing season ending knee surgery.

He appeared in 14 games during the 2013 season and had 59 tackles and four sacks on his way to being named first-team All-Conference USA.

Before the 2014 season, Covington was projected by some to be a late first-round NFL draft pick if he decided to leave school early.

The 21-year-old is the son of CFL Hall of Famer Grover Covington.