Baylor running back Lache Seastrunk has told Yahoo Sports he will enter the 2014 NFL draft.

Seastrunk, a redshirt junior, carried the ball 158 times for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final year in Waco, Texas. The Bears finished the season 11-2, losing to UCF 52–42 in the Fiesta Bowl.

"Playing in the NFL has been a lifelong dream of mine, and I'm fully prepared to take the next step toward realizing that goal," Seastrunk said in a prepared statement. "I'm excited for the opportunity to compete in the NFL draft process. I look forward to giving teams every ounce of energy I've got and proving to them that I'm a good person, a relentless competitor, and a great player, too."

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Seastrunk, 5-foot-10 and 210 pounds, is widely regarded by analysts as one of the most physically gifted running backs in the upcoming draft, where he has been projected to be selected in the first three rounds.

Rated a five-star high school recruit by Rivals, Seastrunk signed with the Univeristy of Oregon and redshirted as a freshman in 2010. He transferred to Baylor in 2011, becoming an integral part of the Bears' offense as a redshirt sophomore in 2012. In his two seasons at Baylor, Seastrunk averaged 7.6 yards per carry, rushing for 2,189 yards and 18 touchdowns.

"I want to thank Coach [Art] Briles, Coach [Jeff] Lebby, Coach [Kaz] Kazadi, [Assistant AD/Athletic Training] Mike Sims and everyone else in the Baylor family," Seastrunk said. "They gave me the chance of a lifetime and I'm so thankful I had the opportunity to act on it.

"I am eternally grateful to Baylor fans and the community of Waco, Texas. I'll always bleed Green and Gold and you'll always be in my heart.

"To my brothers on the team, you know I'll be supporting you from wherever my journey takes me next. Keep working hard and showing the world how incredible our university really is."