MSU junior CB Trae Waynes leaving for NFL

DALLAS -- Michigan State junior cornerback Trae Waynes will forgo his senior season in favor of the NFL draft.

Waynes told the Kenosha (Wis.) News of his decision initially and confirmed it when the Spartans arrived in East Lansing today to Free Press contributor David Harns of isportsweb.com, a day after the No. 7 Spartans pulled off a dramatic comeback to beat No. 4 Baylor 42-41 in the Cotton Bowl.

Waynes said it was a "family decision" upon arriving with his teammates.

Meanwhile, MSU junior defensive end Shilique Calhoun said Thursday after the game that he still has not made up his mind on the NFL and didn't want to discuss the decision in the wake of the victory.

Waynes is widely projected as a first-round pick and, potentially, the first cornerback taken in the draft, which would give MSU consecutive seasons with a first-round pick at cornerback. Darqueze Dennard went to the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round in the 2014 draft.

Without Waynes next season, MSU likely will move Demetrious Cox from safety to cornerback full time. Darian Hicks, who lost his starting job late in the season, also returns, along with Arjen Colquhoun and Jermaine Edmondson. MSU has several young corners looking to make a move.

That position tops the list of question marks for a 2015 MSU team that could start the season in the top 10 in the rankings, based on an offense that will return quarterback Connor Cook and several other key pieces.

Contact Joe Rexrode: jrexrode@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @joerexrode. Check out his MSU blog at freep.com/heyjoe.