Making the morning rounds.

• We hardly knew ye. Florida tight end Aaron Hernandez has already informed teammates he’s taking his heavily-tatted act to the draft a year early, according to the Orlando Sentinel, with an official announcement expected shortly. Hernandez lived up to his billing as one of the top tight ends in the class of 2007 with 102 catches for more than 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns the last two years — while dramatically improving Tim Tebow’s numbers by turning a simple shovel pass into a mainstay of the Gator offense — and would likely be neck neck-and-neck with Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham as the top tight end off the board in April.

In the meantime, the Gators are still awaiting word from twins Mike and Maurkice Pouncey on their return for 2010, along with defensive end Carlos Dunlap and safeties Ahmad Black and Major Wright. Orlando Sentinel

In other early exit news, Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman, a two-time All-Big Ten pick despite an occasionally troubled career in Happy Valley, has announced his intentions to forego his senior year for a likely first-round slot. Nittany Lion running back Evan Royster may not be far behind him. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]

• Raiders survey the field. Defensive coordinator and interim coach Ruffin McNeill reportedly impressed Texas Tech admins during initial talks about the Red Raiders’ vacant head-coaching job, but it’s getting to be a crowded field in Lubbock: Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, son of longtime Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes and a former Mike Leach proteg