For the second straight season, Penn State will lose its starting running back to leaving early for the NFL Draft.

Miles Sanders announced on Twitter two days after the Nittany Lions lost to Kentucky in the Citrus Bowl he would forgo his senior season in State College to try his hand in the pros. Early projections suggest Sanders could be a mid-round selection in April.

Sanders is now the fifth Nittany Lion to declare early for the 2019 NFL Draft, joining offensive linemen Ryan Bates and Connor McGovern and defensive linemen Shareef Miller and Kevin Givens.

After backing up current New York Giant and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year contender Saquon Barkley for his first two years with Penn State, Sanders was Penn State’s feature back in 2018 and rushed for over 1,000 yards. He also found the endzone nine times as a junior.

With Trace McSorley also finishing his career at Penn State, the Nittany Lions will have a pair of new starters in the backfield when the 2019 season gets underway.