GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida junior offensive lineman Mike Pearson said Sunday that he will skip his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft.

Pearson, who has already earned his degree and is planning to get married this spring, is a likely first-round draft choice.

"The fact that I graduated this past December is a big reason for this decision," he said.

"I'm getting married. I feel like I've had a pretty good career here at UF, and I just kind of would like to go the next level and compete at that level and just work my tail off and hopefully have a good career at that level also."

Other Florida underclassmen -- cornerback Lito Sheppard and receivers Jabar Gaffney and Reche Caldwell -- have said they plan to leave.

Junior receiver Taylor Jacobs joined the list of possible early exits. Jacobs, the Most Valuable Player in the Orange Bowl, had never mentioned leaving early, but told The Gainesville Sun that in the wake of coach Steve Spurrier's resignation, he "was 50-50."

Players have until Friday to declare.