University of Hawai'i receiver Ryan Grice-Mullins says he's skipping his senior year to enter the NFL draft. File photo

The final member of the Western Athletic Conference's "Unit of the Year" — slotback Ryan Grice-Mullins — has decided to forgo his senior football season at the University of Hawai'i and apply for the 2008 National Football League draft.

"It was the hardest decision to make in my life," Grice-Mullins said.

Quarterback Colt Brennan and wideouts Jason Rivers and C.J. Hawthorne completed their NCAA eligibility.

Slotback Davone Bess, like Grice-Mullins, opted to forgo his senior season.

Grice-Mullins said a high grade from a draft-assessment committee, his productive UH career and relative good health factored greatly in his decision.

"As much as I've grown as a person and a man in Hawai'i, and all of the relationships I've had there, it came down to making the best deal for me and my family," Grice-Mullins said. "This is the decision I made."

Grice-Mullins said he retained Mike Abadir of SAPROS Sports Management as his agent.

Abadir said he filed Grice-Mullins' draft-application letter today with the NFL.

Grice-Mullins said it was a difficult choice because he is 16 credits away from earning a bachelor's degree in communications.

"Getting a degree is a major priority for me," he said. "I'm very close. (Applying for the draft) is one of those things I couldn't pass up."

Grice-Mullins declined to reveal the grade he received from the assessment team.

"It was a high enough rating for me to want to leave," Grice-Mullins.

Abadir said: "He's training at one of the best facilities. His stock is only going to get better."

Grice-Mullins is in Scottsdale, Ariz, working out at the Triple Threat Performance center. Dan O'Brien, a former world champion decathlete, is the center's head trainer. O'Brien won a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, and placed first in three World Championships.

"(O'Brien) is our secret weapon," Abadir said. "He's unbelievable. Not only does he know how to win competitions and gold medals, he knows how to teach it."

Abadir said he expects Grice-Mullins to receive an invitation to the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

"He's going to do well there," Abadir said. "The combine is a pressure situation. He's shown time and time again, he can handle those situations."

During the recently completed season, Grice-Mullins had 106 receptions for a team-high 1,372 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Before departing, he wanted to make one thing clear. He said his surname was incorrectly listed as "Mullen." That spelling was used on his UH jersey.