Allan
01-19-2011, 7:56pm
and you said they'd bail
Ohio State football: All juniors will come back
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State will not lose any underclassmen to the NFL draft this year, coach Jim Tressel confirmed yesterday.
"Our kids want to finish their degree and their commitment at Ohio State," Tressel told The Dispatch. "That is very important to each and every one of them, and to our staff and entire athletics family."
The news is not a surprise. Starting on Dec. 28, when receiver DeVier Posey vowed to return for his senior season, each OSU junior suspected of considering an NFL jump has indicated that he would return.
The main focus has been on the five juniors who face five-game NCAA suspensions this fall. Prior to leaving for the Sugar Bowl, Tressel told those players that unless they pledged to return, they could not travel to New Orleans.
All five gave Tressel their word.
The NFL today will officially announce which juniors are declaring for the draft. This will be the first year since 2003 that OSU will not lose a junior to the NFL.
Posey was the first to say he would come back. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor was next, on Jan. 1 and again after the bowl game on Jan. 4. Running back Daniel Herron confirmed his return on the field immediately after the bowl.
A few days after the game, offensive tackle Mike Adams indicated via his Twitter account that he would return.
The only one of the players with five-game suspensions who did not publicly pledge to return was defensive end Solomon Thomas. But because he has been a backup, his return really was never in question.
Ironically, the player who may have most seriously considered leaving was center Michael Brewster, who is not under suspension. He told The Dispatch on Jan. 10 that he would be back, despite being rated as the No. 1 center prospect by nfldraftscout.com.
[email protected]
Ohio State football: All juniors will come back
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Ohio State will not lose any underclassmen to the NFL draft this year, coach Jim Tressel confirmed yesterday.
"Our kids want to finish their degree and their commitment at Ohio State," Tressel told The Dispatch. "That is very important to each and every one of them, and to our staff and entire athletics family."
The news is not a surprise. Starting on Dec. 28, when receiver DeVier Posey vowed to return for his senior season, each OSU junior suspected of considering an NFL jump has indicated that he would return.
The main focus has been on the five juniors who face five-game NCAA suspensions this fall. Prior to leaving for the Sugar Bowl, Tressel told those players that unless they pledged to return, they could not travel to New Orleans.
All five gave Tressel their word.
The NFL today will officially announce which juniors are declaring for the draft. This will be the first year since 2003 that OSU will not lose a junior to the NFL.
Posey was the first to say he would come back. Quarterback Terrelle Pryor was next, on Jan. 1 and again after the bowl game on Jan. 4. Running back Daniel Herron confirmed his return on the field immediately after the bowl.
A few days after the game, offensive tackle Mike Adams indicated via his Twitter account that he would return.
The only one of the players with five-game suspensions who did not publicly pledge to return was defensive end Solomon Thomas. But because he has been a backup, his return really was never in question.
Ironically, the player who may have most seriously considered leaving was center Michael Brewster, who is not under suspension. He told The Dispatch on Jan. 10 that he would be back, despite being rated as the No. 1 center prospect by nfldraftscout.com.
[email protected]