USC football: Armond Armstead decides to enter NFL draft

Former USC defensive lineman Armond Armstead, who was not cleared to play last season by USC, was weighed and measured at USC’s Pro Day on Tuesday but was not allowed to work out.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Armstead said he would go through drills for NFL scouts on April 9 at a location to be determined. He has hired an agent and hopes to be selected in the April draft.

“Hopefully, I’ll be meeting with a lot of teams and doing a lot of workouts for the teams so they can see what I can do,” he said.

Armstead’s odyssey began last spring when he was briefly hospitalized after experiencing chest pains. Armstead said he did not have a heart condition, but he has declined to speak publicly about the specifics of his condition. USC Coach Lane Kiffin and university officials also have declined to comment.

Armstead said he had tests and sought medical opinions outside of USC. He visited other schools with the idea of possibly transferring and playing a final college season. His brother Arik had verbally committed to USC but reopened his recruitment and signed with Oregon in February.

“I prayed about it, thought about it and just decided I was ready to move on with my life and move on to the next level,” Armstead said.

Armstead said he was not bitter, but added, “I wish had a senior year.”

Instead, he will attempt to begin a pro career.

Asked if he expected his medical situation to be a hurdle, he said, “Obviously it can be hurdle. I just need to get the right information out there. When teams hear the information, the truth, I don’t think it will be an issue.”