Colorado junior defensive tackle George Hypolite, named to the all-Big 12 Conference first team for 2007, said today he will return to the Buffaloes for his senior season.
Hypolite, 6-foot-1 and 285 pounds, submitted a request for an evaluation from the NFL’s College Advisory Committee. He declined to discuss the contents of the evaluation, including his projected round in the 2008 NFL draft if he had decided to leave early.
Tuesday is the last day for underclassmen to declare for this year’s NFL draft. Players must be at least three years removed from high school.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. has ranked Hypolite among the top 10 defensive tackles in the junior class. Hypolite, a native of Los Angeles, recorded 44 tackles during the 2007 regular season, including 11 tackles for losses and six sacks.
“The thing is, there isn’t a cap on the number of players that (the advisory committee) can say will go in a particular round,” Hypolite said. “And there’s this disclaimer that you could get drafted in a different round ‘depending on draft positions.’ ”
Hypolite has said that for him to leave school early it would have taken a phone call from the Miami Dolphins telling him that he would be the first overall pick.
“I kind of just did the evaluation for me, out of curiosity,” Hypolite said. “I know what to work on. I know I can get better at everything.
“And I’m looking forward to playing with the other guys who will be seniors for the Colorado Buffaloes. I want to help us make a run at the Big 12 championship this year.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
