Wisconsin junior center Peter Konz will enter the 2012 NFL Draft as expected, the school announced Tuesday.
Konz is NFLDraftScout.com's top-ranked center in a class that could produce several interior offensive linemen within the first 50 picks. The Wisconsin junior, in fact, is NFLDraftScout.com's No. 24 ranked player, overall.
Konz learned last week that he had been "highly rated" by the NFL draft advisory board despite missing three games with a dislocated left ankle.
He returned and played well in the Rose Bowl loss to Oregon.
Konz and Stanford junior offensive guard David DeCastro are projected as likely first round picks by NFLDraftScout.com's analysts Rob Rang and Dane Brugler.
Konz started 31 games at Wisconsin and is one of three offensive linemen moving on, including coveted offensive guard prospect Kevin Zeitler.
The Badgers' offense could be hard hit by defections. Offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was named head coach at Pittsburgh, quarterback Russell Wilson's eligibility expired and wide receiver Nick Toon, another player with a grade warranting a top-50 selection, is also gone.
Wisconsin also lost run-game coordinator Joe Rudolph, and assistant coach targeted by head coach Bret Bielema as Chryst's successor.




