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Oklahoma RB Samaje Perine declares for NFL draft

FILE - Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine warms up before the Sugar Bowl NCAA college football game against Auburn in New Orleans, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine says he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine says he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft.

The 235-pound junior became Oklahoma’s career rushing leader during Monday’s 35-19 Sugar Bowl win over Auburn. He finished with 4,122 yards, four ahead of 1978 Heisman winner Billy Sims.

Perine announced his decision on Tuesday in an Instagram post . In the post, he thanked his coaches, family and Oklahoma fans.

Perine rushed for 1,713 yards his freshman year, the sixth-best total in school history, and 21 touchdowns. He ran for a FBS-record 427 yards against Kansas that season, a mark that still stands. As a sophomore, he had 1,349 yards and 16 touchdowns.

This season, despite missing three games and most of a fourth with a leg injury, he rushed for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns. His best performance was a 239-yard effort against Oklahoma State.