Malik McDowell said in the beginning of the 2016 season that he wouldn’t leave East Lansing early unless he knew he was going to be a top-three pick in the NFL draft.

If that’s still true, than apparently McDowell believes he won’t be waiting long on draft night.

The Michigan State defensive tackle hired an agent and plans on declaring early for the NFL draft.

McDowell had until Jan. 16 to declare early, but the MSU star had his mind made up.

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ESPN NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have McDowell ranked on their big boards at No. 15 and No. 10, respectively.

McDowell spent the last part of his MSU career banged up after suffering an ankle injury against Illinois. That sidelined him for the final three games of the season.

McDowell figures to extend MSU’s streak of first-round selections to four years. Last year, Jack Conklin declared early and went No. 8 overall to the Tennessee Titans.