Troy junior defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi has elected to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

“He had two great seasons here,” head coach Larry Blakeney said. “We hope he fulfills all his goals. Our quest now is to try and find someone to replace him.”

Massaquoi registered 128 total tackles in his two seasons with Troy including 19.5 sacks. Massaquoi was also named the Sun Belt Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.

Prior to the 2011 season, Massaquoi was named to the 2011 preseason watch lists for the Lombardi Award, the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Bronko Nagurski Award, the Chuck Bednarik Trophy, the Ted Hendricks Award and the Pony Express Award.

Massaquoi was selected to the first-team all-conference squad both seasons with Troy, though his numbers slipped a bit in 2011. He recorded 76 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and 13.5 sacks in 2010. Last season he produced 52 tackles, 10.5 for loss and just six sacks.

“He looked hard at things,” Blakeney said. “We wish he would have stayed but wish him the best of luck.”

Blakeney said scouts rated Massaquoi to go in the bottom half of the draft but he made the decision to enter anyway.

Massaquoi turns 24 in May and just recently graduated. He redshirted in 2009 after a season at Butler County (Kan.) Community College.