Baylor All-America DE Lynch bypassing senior season for NFL
- Jan. 13, 2020 11:54 PM EST
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Baylor defensive tackle James Lynch, top, sacks Stephen F. Austin's Trae Self in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Waco, Texas. Lynch was selected to The Associated Press All-America Team, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP, File)
FILE - In this Aug. 31, 2019, file photo, Baylor defensive tackle James Lynch, top, sacks Stephen F. Austin's Trae Self in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Waco, Texas. Lynch was selected to The Associated Press All-America Team, Monday, Dec. 16, 2019. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP, File)

WACO, Texas (AP) — All-America defensive end James Lynch says he is bypassing his senior season at Baylor for early entry into the NFL draft.

Lynch announced his decision in a social media post Monday, and said that choosing Baylor was the best decision of his life.

The 6-foot-4, 295-pound defender said he was proud to be part of the team's turnaround from 11 losses two years ago to 11-3 this season. The Bears played in the Big 12 championship game and the Sugar Bowl.

The Big 12 defensive player of the year finished his junior season with 13 1/2 sacks and 19 1/2 tackles for loss, both single-season school records. In his 38 games at Baylor, he set school records with his 22 career sacks.

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