Pac-12 Notebook: Chip Kelly to interview with Browns

If Chip Kelly bolts Oregon for the NFL, he won't be the only person from the Pac-12 to do so. Utah DE Joe Kruger and USC WR Robert Woods have both announced their intent to enter the NFL draft.

By John Breech

Jan 2, 2013 at 5:57 pm ET • 2 min read

According to a report, Oregon coach Chip Kelly will interview with the Cleveland Browns on Friday. (US Presswire)

Here's some news and notes from around the Pac-12:

Oregon coach Chip Kelly might not be Oregon coach Chip Kelly much longer. According to a report from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Kelly will interview with the Browns on Friday. According to USA Today, Kelly will also interview with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. The interviews will reportedly take place in Phoenix. Kelly and the Ducks are in Arizona this week as Oregon prepares to play Kansas State in Thursday's Fiesta Bowl.
Utah DE Joe Kruger announced on Wednesday that he's forgoing his final year of eligibility and making himself eligible for the NFL draft. "This decision is one of the toughest that I have ever had to make," Kruger said in a statement released by the school. Kruger totaled 30 tackles and a team-high six sacks this season. Utah has two gaping holes to fill on the defensive line next season as they'll also be losing first team All-Pac-12 player Star Lotulelei to graduation.
Kruger isn't the only Pac-12 underclassman headed for the NFL draft. USC WR Robert Woods announced on Monday that he would be leaving school early, too. Woods' announcement came just after the Trojans' 21-7 loss to Georgia Tech in Monday's Sun Bowl. "If the coaches wanted to keep me another year, they would've probably got me the ball," Woods told ESPN.com. Woods had three receptions for 33 yards in the Sun Bowl.

Robert Woods: "If the coaches wanted to keep me another year, they would’ve probably got me the ball."
— Pedro Moura (@PedroMoura) January 1, 2013
Not every Pac-12 underclassman with high draft stock is leaving for the NFL. UCLA LB Anthony Barr announced on Twitter that he'll be staying in Westwood for another season. "As close as I am to my dream of playing in the NFL, I believe one more year with this awesome coaching staff and my teammates is what's best. I will be returning for my senior season to further develop as a player and person to help lead this team to a PAC12 championship and ultimately a national championship," Barr said over three tweets.
Stanford won its first Rose Bowl since 1972 with a 20-14 win over Wisconsin on Tuesday, and CBSSports.com's Bruce Feldman sees a program that, despite key losses, keeps coming up roses. "A couple of years ago we lost Toby Gerhart. Couple of years ago we lost coach [Jim] Harbaugh. This year, we lost Andrew Luck. I think it's a testament to our program and how we train and how we prepare each week and every season," DB Usua Amanam told Feldman.