I have been with the Standard Democrat sports department since 2007. I took over as sports editor in May of 2011 and have been slightly crazy about sports since I can remember. I attended Southeast Missouri State University and Scott County Central High School. I co-created our sports web show "The Last Word" and my two children, Elijah and CJ. I was married to my wife, Angie, in May of 2014. I love to golf, I am an avid NBA2K gamer and root for the Fighting Irish on Saturdays.

Former NMCC standout Kony Ealy declares for the NFL draft

Posted Saturday, January 4, 2014, at 12:45 PM

Current Mizzou junior and former New Madrid County Central standout Kony Ealy will forego his senior year and officially declared for the NFL draft following the Tigers' Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State last night. The Mizzou pass rusher, 6-5, 275-pounds, is projected to go as high as the first round and as low as the second. Out of the NFL-eligible defensive ends so far, Ealy is rated as No. 3 on most draft boards. He finished second behind his defensive line counterpart, Michael Sam, with 8.5 sacks. He set career bests in all stats and led Mizzou with 16 QB hurries and three forced fumbles.

The consistent improvement shown by Ealy has been impressive. For what it's worth, I think this is the perfect time for him to move to the next level. He'll only get better from here. Kudos to Ealy and his family. I wish him the best of luck and will continue to follow his future NFL career no matter what team picks him up.

And further more...IF Ealy happens to go in the first round, he will be southeast Missouri's fourth athlete to go in the first round of the three major American sports and second in the last year. SCC graduate Otto Porter was the Washington Wizards' third pick in last June's NBA draft and Poplar Bluff's Tyler Hansbrough went 13th overall to the Pacers in 2009. In the MLB, Sikeston's Blake DeWitt was drafted in the first round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004.