Jared Goff plans to enter the 2016 NFL Draft

Dec 29, 2015; Fort Worth, TX, USA; California Golden Bears quarterback Jared Goff (16) celebrates with his teammates after defeating the Air Force Falcons at Amon G. Carter Stadium. California won 55-36. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

After watching Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch Wednesday, Cal quarterback Jared Goff should be the first quarterback of the board in May. And according to ESPN.com’s Joe Schad, Goff plans to announce to the football world that he will indeed enter the 2016 NFL Draft.

The announcement is expected to take place at a 10 a.m. PT news conference on Thursday. There’s really no reason for him to stay in school after painting his collegiate masterpiece on Tuesday.  Goff completed 25 of 37 passes for 467 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions in a win against Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl.

For the year, he threw for 4,719 yards with 43 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a completion percentage of 64.5. Goff’s six touchdown passes Tuesday tied for the second-most in a bowl game, with Connor Halliday, Geno Smith and Chuck Long. His 43 TD passes broke former Oregon QB Marcus Mariota’s Pac-12 single-season record of 42 in 2014.

What’s most impressive is what he’s done with the little talent Cal has surrounded him with. His journey started as the first true freshman QB in Cal history to start a season opener, going 1-11 to an 8-5 record in 2015. The 8-5 finish Goff led his Golden Bears to happens to be the program’s best finish in six years.

That shows he should up to the challenge of lifting a struggling franchise at his next stop in the NFL. ESPN’s Todd McShay projects Goff as the 2nd-best quarterback in the 2016 draft class, behind Lynch. I see him as the best but he and the other draft experts at least have him rated highly on their draft boards.