Malik McDowell has strong opinion about leaving early for draft

Michigan State defensive end Malik McDowell will likely be one of the best players in the country this year and he could play a big role in the 2017 NFL Draft next April. However, he may be sticking around for the 2017 season despite being considered a top ten pick.

McDowell spoke with Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press at the Spartan’s media day on Monday and had a strong opinion about leaving school a year early for the draft. He said that he would rather return for his final season of eligibility than be just a top ten pick.

Top 10 ain’t good enough for me,” McDowell said. “I ain’t leaving if I’m (only) top 10. If I’m not top three, I don’t leave. Really. I’m just trying to live day by day. It’s one through three, that’s the only way I’m going. I’m happy, I like it here, I ain’t really in a rush to leave.

“The teammates I have the on-field stuff we do, the off-field stuff we do. Just good people around me. I can’t complain.”

McDowell is going to step up and easily be the best defensive player for the team this year. In 2015, he recorded 41 tackles, 13 for loss, five sacks and returned an interception for a touchdown.

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