Jake Locker walked into the football offices at Washington on Monday morning and quickly ended any lingering question about his future.Touted as a potential top-10 NFL draft selection, Locker is putting his professional aspirations on hold and instead will return for his senior season and one more shot at helping restore the Huskies to prominence.
In a statement released through the university, Locker said he will not make himself available for the 2010 NFL draft.
"After a great deal of careful thought and deliberation, I have decided to return to Washington and play my senior year," Locker said. "I am very excited about this team's opportunities and potential for the upcoming season, and I am looking forward to being a part of it."
Locker's decision is a major coup for coach Steve Sarkisian and a Washington program that showed signs of revival, going 5-7 this season after an 0-12 debacle in 2008.
"I think Jake feels like he's got some unfinished work here at the University of Washington," Sarkisian said.
Playing in Sarkisian's pro-style offense, Locker threw for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns, completing 58 percent of his throws. It was the third-highest passing total in Washington history.
He also added nearly 400 yards rushing and seven TDs on the ground.
Coach struck player?: The University of South Florida plans to look into a report that coach Jim Leavitt struck one of his players in the face during halftime of a game last month.
Citing the player's father, high school coach and five USF players who were not identified, AOL FanHouse reported that Leavitt grabbed Joel Miller by the throat and hit him in the face twice because the coach was upset about a mistake on special teams in a 34-22 win over Louisville on Nov. 21.
Hill extended: Fresno State coach Pat Hill will get a contract extension to stay at the school beyond 2010. Hill has a 100-65 record in 11 seasons at Fresno State. He has led the Bulldogs to their 10th bowl game in his tenure. Fresno State (8-4) plays Wyoming in Saturday's New Mexico Bowl.
Briefly: Mississippi State defensive coordinator Carl Torbush is leaving to take the same job at Kansas. The move was announced by Jayhawks coach Turner Gill, who also said former San Diego State head coach Chuck Long will be Kansas' offensive coordinator. ... South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has been given a one-year contract extension, taking him through 2013. His salary will remain $1.75 million. The Gamecocks (7-5) play Connecticut on Jan. 2 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl.Read more
In a statement released through the university, Locker said he will not make himself available for the 2010 NFL draft.
"After a great deal of careful thought and deliberation, I have decided to return to Washington and play my senior year," Locker said. "I am very excited about this team's opportunities and potential for the upcoming season, and I am looking forward to being a part of it."
Locker's decision is a major coup for coach Steve Sarkisian and a Washington program that showed signs of revival, going 5-7 this season after an 0-12 debacle in 2008.
"I think Jake feels like he's got some unfinished work here at the University of Washington," Sarkisian said.
Playing in Sarkisian's pro-style offense, Locker threw for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns, completing 58 percent of his throws. It was the third-highest passing total in Washington history.
He also added nearly 400 yards rushing and seven TDs on the ground.
Coach struck player?: The University of South Florida plans to look into a report that coach Jim Leavitt struck one of his players in the face during halftime of a game last month.
Citing the player's father, high school coach and five USF players who were not identified, AOL FanHouse reported that Leavitt grabbed Joel Miller by the throat and hit him in the face twice because the coach was upset about a mistake on special teams in a 34-22 win over Louisville on Nov. 21.
Hill extended: Fresno State coach Pat Hill will get a contract extension to stay at the school beyond 2010. Hill has a 100-65 record in 11 seasons at Fresno State. He has led the Bulldogs to their 10th bowl game in his tenure. Fresno State (8-4) plays Wyoming in Saturday's New Mexico Bowl.
Briefly: Mississippi State defensive coordinator Carl Torbush is leaving to take the same job at Kansas. The move was announced by Jayhawks coach Turner Gill, who also said former San Diego State head coach Chuck Long will be Kansas' offensive coordinator. ... South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has been given a one-year contract extension, taking him through 2013. His salary will remain $1.75 million. The Gamecocks (7-5) play Connecticut on Jan. 2 in the PapaJohns.com Bowl.Read more
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