TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Foley High School star wide receiver Julio Jones announced Friday that he will forego his senior season at the University of Alabama and instead enter his name into the NFL Draft.

Jones, who was ranked by most recruiting services as the top wide receiver out of high school in the 2008 signing class, was part of a trio of Crimson Tide players who will leave the school early for the NFL. Heisman winner Mark Ingram and defensive lineman Marcel Dareus also declared for the draft on Friday.

“I want to tell the University of Alabama thank you for giving me the opportunity to come here and play,” Jones said at a Friday press conference in Tuscaloosa. “It’s been the best three years of my life. Alabama is a very historic university. The people around here, the coaching staff, it’s home away from home. You can’t beat that.”

Jones, a junior, started 40 games at Alabama in three years and holds the single-season record for yards (1,133) and receptions (78). He finished second in career (2,653) yards and receptions (179).