Malik McDowell Will Enter the NFL Draft

According to 247Sports.com, junior linemen Malik McDowell has signed with an agent and will declare for the draft.

McDowell is projected to be a top-20 pick by most draft scouts. He is ranked 10th on Scouts Inc. and ESPN's Mel Kiper ranks him at No. 15 on his big board.

Earlier in the season, Malik McDowell said he would only turn pro if he was projected in the top three picks. He may not be taken that early but has a strong chance to be taken in the first round and would join Darqueze Dennard, Trae Waynes and Jack Conklin as the only MSU players to be selected in the first round under Mark Dantonio.

In 36 games at Michigan State McDowell recorded 90 tackles, 24.5 for loss, and 7.5 sacks. In his final season at MSU he missed the last three games due to a nagging ankle injury. The Spartans finished the season 3-9.

The Southfield native was a five-star recruit and ranked the 26th best prospect in the 2014 class at Rivals.com.