CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina tailback Gio Bernard is entering the NFL draft after his sophomore season.

The school announced Bernard's decision Friday morning and a news conference is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Bernard is draft-eligible because he has been out of high school for three seasons. He missed the 2010 season with a knee injury, then became a first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection the next two seasons. He also earned third-team All-America honors from The Associated Press this week.

Bernard led the ACC in rushing, scoring, all-purpose yards and punt-return average.

Bernard ran for 1,228 yards and 12 touchdowns despite missing two games and most of another with a knee injury. He ranked 11th nationally by averaging 122.8 yards per game.

He scored a league-best 19 touchdowns, including two on punt returns.