Star Texas quarterback Young headed to NFL

Vince Young is headed to the NFL.

The Texas quarterback, who led the Longhorns to their first national championship in 36 years, announced Sunday he would make himself eligible for the April draft.

Young maintained during the season that he would to return for his senior year, but said his Rose Bowl performance put him “over the top.”

“Hard work has paid off a whole lot,” he said.

Young was spectacular in Texas’ 41-38 Rose Bowl win over top-ranked Southern California on Wednesday, and he would have been a favorite to win the Heisman Trophy had he decided to return.

The versatile quarterback accounted for 467 yards against USC – 200 running and 267 passing – and ran 8 yards for the winning touchdown with 19 seconds left.

Young thanked many people, including his family and coach Mack Brown, who was at the American Football Coaches Association Convention and could not attend Sunday’s news conference. He specifically thanked Brown for “helping me become a better man.”

In a statement, Brown said he met with Young and his family Sunday morning and fully supports Young’s decision.

“We love Vince and appreciate all the great things he’s done for the University of Texas on and off the field,” Brown said. “We’ll miss him, but want him to do as well in the NFL as he did in college.”

Michigan’s Gutierrez transferring

Michigan’s No. 2 quarterback, Matt Gutierrez, says he is leaving the Wolverines and will play for Idaho State in the fall.

Gutierrez, who has one year of college eligibility remaining, declined to say whether he was promised the starting job for the Division I-AA Bengals but said he was certain he would never supplant Chad Henne as Michigan’s top quarterback.

Gutierrez was expected to take over as the Wolverines’ starter in 2004 to replace John Navarre, but a shoulder injury kept him out of the lineup. Gutierrez underwent surgery and participated in just three games in the 2005 season as Henne’s backup, completing 14 of 22 passes.

Kansas’ Gordon enters NFL draft

Kansas cornerback-wide receiver Charles Gordon will pass up his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Whether playing offense or defense, the talented and versatile Gordon was one of the best players in the Big 12 Conference. As a wide receiver, he had 106 catches for 1,232 yards and nine touchdowns. As a cornerback, he had nine career interceptions.

His seven interceptions in 2004 tied him for the NCAA lead.

•Ohio State cornerback Ashton Youboty will pass up his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Youboty was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and has been projected as going anywhere from the late first round to the third round.

NOW asks Paterno to resign

A leader from the women’s rights group NOW has asked Joe Paterno to resign over comments the Penn State football coach made about an alleged sexual assault.

Joanne Tosti-Vasey, president of the National Organization for Women in Pennsylvania, said Sunday that she was “appalled” by Paterno’s comments last week and that they represent an institutional insensitivity that endangers women.

Paterno’s remarks came a day before the Orange Bowl, when a reporter asked about Florida State linebacker A.J. Nicholson, who was accused of sexual assault and sent home before Tuesday’s game.

Paterno replied by talking about past suspensions of Penn State players.