Iowa junior offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga has chosen to forgo a final season with the Hawkeyes by becoming eligible for the 2010 NFL draft.

Bulaga, the 2009 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, issued the following statement Wednesday:

“After much deliberation and careful consideration, I have decided to forgo my fourth year of college eligibility and enter the upcoming NFL draft. This was not an easy decision since my Iowa experience has been very positive and rewarding.

“The illness I was faced with at the beginning of the 2009 season made me realize how important football is in my life and how quickly it can be taken away. … I will always be a Hawkeye and will carry that with me proudly wherever my future takes me. Thanks to everyone for the support you’ve always given me.”

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz released the following statement:

“Bryan has been a valued team member, well beyond his outstanding play on the field. I’m very appreciative of his efforts on the team’s behalf. I am confident Bryan will do very well in the years to come and again be a valuable asset to his future team. We wish him the best and continued success.”

— by Ryan Young

Although Bryan Bulaga, Tony Moeaki and Derrell Johnson-Koulianos were not featured on Iowa’s two-deep issued on Monday due to injuries, a possibility remains for the Hawkeye trio to play on Saturday at Penn State.
“Injury-wise, we are still day-to-day with the three guys on offense — Tony Moeaki, Bryan and Derrell,” Ferentz said at his press conference earlier this afternoon. “Greg Castillo, I think, is moving in the right direction, and I am pretty confident he will practice. We will kind of see how that goes.”
Rumors have circulated around Bulaga, who has been sidelined for Iowa’s last two games due to an undisclosed illness. Thus, Ferentz utilized his time today to negate lingering theories regarding his star offensive lineman.
“For the record, he doesn’t have an infected tattoo,” Ferentz said. “I just ask what kind of rumors are out there … I asked if anybody had been on the message boards [at a medical meeting].
“He doesn’t have an infected tattoo. His life is not in risk. I made that point pretty clear. This is just something that has got to pass.”
— by Amie Kiehn