ARIZONA STATE FOOTBALL

Arizona State WR N’Keal Harry declares for 2019 NFL Draft

Nov 26, 2018, 11:11 AM | Updated: 4:12 pm

Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry (1) fends off Utah defensive back Jaylon Johnson in the se...

Arizona State wide receiver N'Keal Harry (1) fends off Utah defensive back Jaylon Johnson in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State receiver N’Keal Harry will forego his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft, he announced on Monday.

“This has been a great ride. This has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something that I’ll take with me the rest of my life,” Harry said.

“This definitely was not an easy decision. I truly do love this university. This place has given me opportunities I’ve only dreamt of,” he added. “I really feel like I’m leaving this place as a grown man.”

Harry, who ESPN’s Todd McShay has projected as a first-round pick in 2019, has yet to decide if he will play in the Sun Devils’ upcoming bowl game.

ASU head coach Herm Edwards told Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station earlier Monday that he had already discussed Harry’s bowl game eligibility with the receiver.

“I always side on the side of the player,” Edwards said. “I’m going to do what’s best for the football player every time.”

As a junior this season, the product out of Chandler High School pulled in 73 receptions for 1,088 yards (14.9 yards per catch) and nine touchdowns. His best season came as a sophomore, when the 6-foot-4, 213-pound Harry caught 82 balls for 1,142 yards.

Edwards compared Harry’s skillset to former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant.

“Big strong physical guy, can make a contested catch,” Edwards said. “There’s a lot of boxes that he checks off. Probably biggest box that he checks off — and I’ve discussed it with the pro guys — he loves to compete. It’s no longer a hobby, it’s your career. You have to go take someone’s job.

“This becomes your life. You have to invest in it. He’s done that. He’s done that as a college player.”

Harry is third in ASU history with 213 career receptions, trailing just Derek Hagan’s 258 (2002-05) and D.J. Foster’s 222 (2012-15). He’s also third, behind Hagan and John Jefferson (1974-77), with 2,889 receiving yards over his three seasons as a Sun Devil.

Harry leaves ASU tied for fifth in school history with 22 receiving touchdowns.

“This state has given me so much,” said Harry, who chose to stay close to home and committed to ASU after playing at nearby Chandler High School. “Being just a kid from a small island (St. Vincent), ending up in Arizona, this state means the world to me.”

At receiver, Arizona State will have redshirt sophomore Frank Darby and juniors Kyle Williams and Brandon Aiyuk returning next season. Each of them recorded more than 400 receiving yards this year.

Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins celebrates with the fans after defeating Arizona in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) celebrates with fans by holding up the Territorial Cup after defeating Arizona in an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona placekicker Josh Pollack (30) watches with Jake Glatting (16) and Rexx Tessler (55) a missed field goal that would of won an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. Arizona State defeated Arizona to claim the Territorial Cup. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State defensive lineman Tyler Johnson (41) celebrates with Arizona State linebacker Merlin Robertson (8) after recovering a fumble in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State safety Aashari Crosswell (16) intercepts the football against Arizona in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona running back J.J. Taylor tries to leap over Arizona State defensive back Demonte King (28) in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State defensive back Kobe Williams (5) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona wide receiver Will Gunnell in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona wide receiver Tony Ellison, right, holds onto the football after getting hit by Arizona State safety Aashari Crosswell (16) for a touchdown in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin (3) scores a touchdown in front of Arizona safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin (3) breaks the tackle of Arizona linebacker Colin Schooler in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin (3) celebrates with N'Keal Harry after scoring the winning touchdown during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona safety Chacho Ulloa (13) strips the ball from Arizona State running back Eno Benjamin (3) in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate throws downfield against Arizona State in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona wide receiver Shawn Poindexter, right, catches a touchdown pass while being defended by Arizona safety Christian Young (5) in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona safety Troy Young (11) gets called for holding Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby (84) in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona wide receiver Tony Ellison, left, celebrates with Khalil Tate (14) after scoring a touchdown against Arizona State in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) avoids a rush from the Arizona defense in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona safety Troy Young (11) breaks up the pass intended for Arizona State wide receiver Frank Darby (84) in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) throws downfield against Arizona in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona wide receiver Shawn Poindexter makes a catch for a first down in front of Arizona State defensive back Demonte King (28) in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

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