NASHVILLE, Tenn. — D.J. Moore is soft spoken, so keeping secrets comes easy for the Vanderbilt junior cornerback.

But this was a whopper.

Moore revealed Wednesday after the Commodores' 16-14 win over Boston College in the Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl that he had decided in the middle of the season to forgo his final year at Vanderbilt and make himself eligible for the 2009 NFL Draft.

Moore had remained tight-lipped with the media and didn't even discus his decision with his teammates, though he said he was sure most of them knew he was leaving.

He had only informed his family and coach Bobby Johnson of his decision before Wednesday.

"It's been a while, probably since the middle of the season that I felt was good enough to leave," Moore said. "I just waited until the end of the season to announce it because, if I would have said something back then, I would have gotten questions about it and it would have just been a distraction."

Moore is projected by some analysis to be among the top two cornerbacks taken in the draft.

His final performance was spoiled somewhat by a sprained ankle he suffered with 9:55 remaining in the first half. He limped back onto the field, but his speed was affected until the coaching staff pulled him out for good in the fourth quarter.

"I didn't want to come out, (Johnson) just took me out," Moore said. "I felt that I was good enough to still play."

Moore's departure marks the second consecutive season the Commodores lost one of their best players early to the NFL. Last year, wide receiver Earl Bennett passed on his final season to enter the draft.

Throughout the season, Moore was one of the nation's most versatile players, seeing action not only at cornerback, but wide receiver, running back, and punt and kick returner. He even took snaps at quarterback.

He was a consensus All-Southeastern Conference pick and named to the Associated Press All-American Second Team.

In Wednesday's game, however, Moore was limited to four tackles on defense and one pass breakup.

On offense, he gained three yards on his only carry and did not return any punts or kickoffs.

"It still feels good to go out with a win," Moore said. "I wish I hadn't had the injury, but ..."

Moore said he would not re-enroll in school in January and is in the process of deciding where he will train. He said he planned to sign with an agent after Jan. 18.

Johnson said he supported Moore's decision.

"I'm for D.J. and I want what's best for him," Johnson said. "I think everybody in our program is for D.J. I really hope it works out for him. I think he's a fantastic football player. How he does in the NFL, I really don't know. But I know he'll work at it and he's got talent to get up there and compete against those guys."

Moore petitioned for information with the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, but has not yet received the feedback.

"I've turned it in, but I haven't heard," Moore said. "I wasn't going to let that make my decision because it was something personally that I had to make."