ATLANTA -- For the second time in two days, the University of Georgia has lost a standout underclass player to the NFL draft, with tailback Musa Smith announcing on Wednesday he will forego his final season of eligibility.

On Tuesday, junior defensive tackle Jonathan Sullivan, who is expected to be a first-round choice, decided to enter the draft.

Smith had hinted he was considering the move, filed his name with the NFL advisory committee that evaluates underclass players, and informed coach Mark Richt of his decision on Wednesday.

"Everyone has to make up their own mind about when the time is right for them," said Richt, who led the Bulldogs to a 13-1 record and No. 3 national ranking in just his second season at Georgia. "Our feeling was that he would benefit from another season (in college), but Musa knows what his goals are, and he's a bright kid."

"He just felt he was ready for the NFL,'' said assistant coach Mike Bobo, who began working with the team's running backs after Tony Pierce resigned at midseason. "We think he's physical enough to play at that level.''

Plagued by injuries earlier in his career, Smith enjoyed a breakout season in 2002, rushing for 1,324 yards and eight touchdowns on 260 carries. He was Georgia's first 1,000-yard rusher in 10 years, despite playing with a cast on his left hand to protect a broken thumb.

Although scouts cannot address for attribution an underclass player's draft prospects until he is officially entered into the lottery, opinions are decidedly mixed on Smith's future. Some talent evaluators point out that he has very good size and excellent inside power, while others point to a lack of linear speed and quickness.

Smith indicated after the Nokia Sugar Bowl that he was considering the draft, in part because Georgia will lose all five starting offensive lineman and blocking fullback J.T. Wall.

"I think losing the offensive line and fullback probably weighed heavily on him,'' Bobo said. "We never tried to convince him one way or the other. We just tried to make sure he had all the right information to make the right decision. It's a family decision. He sat down with his family, decided what to do and we wished him good luck.''

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.