12:33 AM CST on Monday, January 9, 2006

By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

AP

Vince Young rushes for the winning touchdown at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

AUSTIN — Texas junior quarterback Vince Young said he will forego his final year of eligibility and make himself eligible for the NFL Draft at a news conference in Austin Sunday afternoon.

"Basically, hard work has paid off—a whole lot," he said, wearing a white cap and a UT polo shirt.

Young offered thanks to his teammates and to his coaches. "It's been a real fun ride, man; it's been beautiful," he said, adding: "I'll always bleed orange—for the rest of my life, I'll bleed orange."

Young met with Texas coach Mack Brown to tell him about the decision to go pro before making the announcement.

Young said he would return to school to get his degree at a later date.

The star quarterback told reporters he was prepared to work hard to achieve success at the professional level. "I'm not going to be one of those players in the league that's always complaining about money," he said. "I bring a whole lot to the table."

He said he felt that Texas fans would be understanding of his decision to leave the Longhorns.

An unscientific survey of WFAA.com visitors indicated that they were evenly split on Young's choice.

Yolande Levine, Young's godmother, said Young and Young’s mother, Felicia, met with Young’s pastor, Samuel H. Smith, in Houston on Sunday morning before finalizing the decision. Young then went to Austin to meet with coach Brown, Levine said.

“After that performance in the Rose Bowl, I think we all kind of knew which way he was going to go,” Levine said. Levine said it was important to Young to return to campus to meet with Brown with all the same people who were on his recruiting visit: his mother, the family’s attorney, Major Adams, and his uncle, Keith Young.

Vince Young becomes the first high-profile player to leave Texas early for the NFL in Brown’s eight years as coach of the Longhorns.

Young scored twice in the final 4:30, including an 8-yard, game-winning touchdown run with 19 seconds left, to beat USC, 41-38, for the national title on Wednesday. Young’s NFL draft stock seemed to soar after accounting for a Rose Bowl record 467 yards of total offense in the game.

But published reports have said the Houston Texans, who have the first pick, will pick up an $8 million roster bonus to keep quarterback David Carr and will draft USC tailback Reggie Bush.

On Sunday, Young indicated a preference to play for the Texans. "it'd be wonderful to play at home, being a Houstonian," he said.

Published reports have said the New Orleans Saints are interested in USC quarterback Matt Leinart with the second pick. The Tennessee Titans, who have quarterback Steve McNair, a mentor to and close friend of Young’s, have the third pick.

Young’s decision could influence that of junior offensive tackle Justin Blalock of Plano East, who is also considering an early jump to the NFL. When asked at the Rose Bowl if Young turning pro would impact his decision, Blalock said, “Somewhat.”

Blalock couldn’t immediately be reached for comment on Sunday.

Mack Brown said Thursday he wants whatever is best for Young.

“If he’s back and unhappy, that’s the worst thing you can possibly have,” Brown said. “What we want in rewards for Vince is what is in his heart. What is best for him will be best for the University of Texas. Somebody asked me, ‘If you win the national championship and Vince leaves, what will you do?’ I said, ‘I’ll kiss him.’”

Young will leave Texas as the school’s all-time leader in total offense (9,167 yards), career quarterback victories (30-2), career rushing TDs by a QB (37) and career TDs responsible for (81).

Young will also leave as the school’s No. 5 all-time leading rusher (3,127 yards) behind Ricky Williams (6,279), Cedric Benson (5,540), Earl Campbell (4,443) and Chris Gilbert (3,231).

Young set the UT single-season total offense record (4,086 yards) in 2005 and became the only player in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards (1,050) and pass for 3,000 yards (3,036) in a single season. He was honored with the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award and the Maxwell Award, given to the nation’s best college football player.

WFAA.com editor Walt Zwirko contributed to this report.

E-mail chipbrown@dallasnews.com