Wednesday’s College Football news & Notes

Ohio State: Marshon Lattimore made his decision official on Wednesday, announcing on Twitter that he’s going to the NFL, where he’s projected to be a first-round pick.

Lattimore is the sixth, and likely last, Buckeye to announce he’s leaving early for the pros. He joins receivers Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown, safety Malik Hooker, cornerback Gareon Conley and linebacker Raekwon McMillan. His declaration means Ohio State will be losing 75 percent of its starting secondary to the NFL Draft for the second straight year. Last year cornerback Eli Apple and safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell all declared. Apple was a top-10 pick, Bell was a second-round pick and Powell went undrafted.

It’s possible that Lattimore, Conley and Hooker all go in the first round this year. ESPN’s Todd McShay had Lattimore as his No. 7 prospect on his updated big board after the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Signing Day: Coaches unanimously support creating an early signing period for college football in December, but the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association says none of them want a third signing day in June.

Todd Berry said Wednesday that coaches are worried the model proposed by the NCAA’s football oversight committee that would create two early signing periods in June and December for high school prospects to sign binding national letters of intent changes too much too fast.

The committee’s recruiting changes could be approved in April by the NCAA council and could take effect as early as later this year.

“We would like to now start the conversation going about multiple signing days,” Berry said at a news conference. “This is something that we have never come to agreement on, and we’re ready to take that step.”

Berry said coaches understand the current model is “archaic” with student-athletes and both high school and college coaches wanting more flexibility and earlier signing periods.

Nebraska: Nebraska coach Mike Riley has fired defensive coordinator Mark Banker, whose unit underperformed in some of the Cornhuskers’ most important games. Riley also announced Wednesday that defensive backs coach Brian Stewart and director of player personnel Ryan Gunderson are leaving the program to pursue other opportunities. Banker coached with Riley for 20 years, including 14 years at Oregon State and the last two at Nebraska.

Riley in a statement thanked Banker for his work and contributions to the program and said he would conduct a national search for a new defensive coordinator.

The Huskers lost four of their last six games, including 40-10 to Iowa and 38-24 to Tennessee in the Music City Bowl. The Huskers tackled poorly while giving up 521 yards to Tennessee.

Clemson: Clemson receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott made it official on Wednesday, both declaring they will give up their final year of college for the NFL draft. The two helped the Tigers to a 35-31 victory over No. 1 Alabama to win the national championship on Monday night. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had said in November the two planned to leave school after this season and the pair took part in the team’s Senior Day ceremonies for players not returning.

Williams posted on Twitter that he and his teammates brought a title to the school and would be “remembered forever.” He had 98 catches this season for 1,367 yards and 11 TDs.

Scott also announced his NFL intentions on Twitter, posting that he believes it’s the best choice for him.

Associated Press/Staff report