Landry Jones to return for senior season.

[KPENN]

Oklahoma Sooners QB Landry Jones to return for senior season - ESPN

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, the school's all-time leading passer, announced Thursday that he is returning to school for his senior year.

"I want to accomplish the goals that I set before I got here, and there is still a lot more to do," Jones said. "I want to make sure I've exhausted every effort in that area. And I want to be a senior. I enjoy being at OU and with my teammates and look forward to graduating with the guys that were in my class when I got here."

ESPN draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay both ranked Jones as their No. 3 quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. Jones is 15th on Kiper's Big Board, and ranked 17th overall by McShay.

Last week, Jones admitted he had "gone back and forth so many times" about his decision that he would wait until the Jan. 15 deadline before revealing his intentions.

But the allure of ending his college career on a better note and taking a final run at the national championship made Jones' decision easier than he expected.

"We hope to have another opportunity to make a title run," he said. "Most of the offensive line returns and we have several receivers and backs return, too. We've also got a lot of guys back on defense, so we're confident that we can be a strong team."

By coming back, Jones has a chance to become the winningest quarterback in OU history and shatter all school career passing records. His return means the Sooners will have eight starters back on an offense that struggled at the end of the season without Ryan Broyles, who tore his ACL in early November, but still finished fifth nationally in total yards.

"We know the positive influence Landry has on and off the field with our team," coach Bob Stoops said. "We're excited that he's coming back to build on what has already been an outstanding career. We expect another great year from him, and like the fact that he's determined to be even better."

Earlier Thursday, Oklahoma junior defensive end Ronnell Lewis announced that he will skip his senior season and enter the draft.

Jay Norvell, the Sooners' co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach, met Wednesday with Wisconsin but will stay at Oklahoma, a source told ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad.

 

[PLACforever]

Damn, I was hoping ND would avoid him next year.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Our inexperienced secondary will have to face not one, but two Heisman-caliber QBs in 2012 who earlier this year both looked to be sure-fire draftees.

Unless our DL (and Diaco) really get after Barkley and Jones, we'll be heavy underdogs in both of those games.

 

[Grahambo]

Wow. I am a bit surprised at the news.

 

[PLACforever]

Our inexperienced secondary will have to face not one, but two Heisman-caliber QBs in 2012 who earlier this year both looked to be sure-fire draftees.

Unless our DL (and Diaco) really get after Barkley and Jones, we'll be heavy underdogs in both of those games.

^this

 

[koonja]

We're ****ed. At least their D-line will be a bit light after 2 starters left early for the draft.

 

[irishog77]

Our inexperienced secondary will have to face not one, but two Heisman-caliber QBs in 2012 who earlier this year both looked to be sure-fire draftees.

Unless our DL (and Diaco) really get after Barkley and Jones, we'll be heavy underdogs in both of those games.

And as of now, Barkley will be the odds on favorite to be the top pick in the draft. Jones, if he answers a couple questions this year, could fall only a spot or 2 behind him...but I'd say early to mid 1st round guy for sure.

So not only 2 Heisman-caliber guys, but 2 guys NFL teams will probably look to build their franchises around.

Lo Wood should prolly be burnin' some midnight oil starting about...now.

 

[arahop]

Luck of the Irish my a**. We are the most unlucky team when it comes to our opponents having key players coming back. First Luck, now Barkley and Jones. When will we catch a break?

 

[NDinFL]

Luck of the Irish my a**. We are the most unlucky team when it comes to our opponents having key players coming back. First Luck, now Barkley and Jones. When will we catch a break?

That is bound to happen anyway, there isn't a thing ND can do, except be as prepared as we can be and play our asses off when we see both of these guys

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Our inexperienced secondary will have to face not one, but two Heisman-caliber QBs in 2012 who earlier this year both looked to be sure-fire draftees.

Unless our DL (and Diaco) really get after Barkley and Jones, we'll be heavy underdogs in both of those games.

FML

 

[irishfanjho15]

bitch when we don't play enough tough teams, bitch when we do, SMH

 

[phork]

Such negativity! We are going to win both of those games! Don't forget we were one fumble away from beating USC! Come on guys!

 

[IrishAlum1997]

We are past the point of fearing players at this school. Did anyone watch Landry Jones in the bowl game? I'm glad he's coming back so that Bell kid doesn't get more touches. Was not impressed.

 

[koonja]

Such negativity! We are going to win both of those games! Don't forget we were one fumble away from beating USC! Come on guys!

Irony and I love it.

 

[Irishnuke]

We are past the point of fearing players at this school. Did anyone watch Landry Jones in the bowl game? I'm glad he's coming back so that Bell kid doesn't get more touches. Was not impressed.

NFL draft analysts disagree.

 

[NDOM]

Such negativity! We are going to win both of those games! Don't forget we were one fumble away from beating USC! Come on guys!

ROTFLMFAO! I want whatever you are smoking. I still say 7-5 regular season and a bowl loss to top off a 7-6 year.

 

[phork]

ROTFLMFAO! I want whatever you are smoking. I still say 7-5 regular season and a bowl loss to top off a 7-6 year.

Stop being so negative bro! You are bringing me down!

 

[ACamp1900]

Damn, I was hoping ND would avoid him next year.

Yeah, I was feeling good about both games BEFORE Jones and Barkley came back...

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ROTFLMFAO! I want whatever you are smoking. I still say 7-5 regular season and a bowl loss to top off a 7-6 year.

Stop being so negative bro! You are bringing me down!

I hoped that injecting a little realism into our expectations for 2012 might bring you two around a little, but it's made you even more insufferable than usual.

 

[NYIrish14]

So next year we will play against the top two NFL QB prospects in all of college football? Yippy.

 

[mriguy]

Jones did not throw a touchdown in his last 2 or three games. Aftre his top receiver Broyles was injured he had a hard time and looked bad passing the ball. I think he is a good QB but not to the point to strike fear into me when they play ND.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Jones did not throw a touchdown in his last 2 or three games. Aftre his top receiver Broyles was injured he had a hard time and looked bad passing the ball. I think he is a good QB but not to the point to strike fear into me when they play ND.

Many OU fans were upset to hear he was returning for the same reason, and it's incredibly short-sighted. Jones is a 1st round draft pick; he didn't suddenly turn into a sh!tty QB after Broyles' injury.

I would trade Rees for Jones every day of the week and twice on Sunday. If only we had such "problems" as a 1st-round QB returning for his senior year.

 

[phork]

I hoped that injecting a little realism into our expectations for 2012 might bring you two around a little, but it's made you even more insufferable than usual.

Man I just can't win. New Years Resolution to bring positivity to the board and I get crapped on. WHICH WAY DO YOU WANT IT.

 

[mgriff]

I guess the Dolphins will just have to pickup Manning in Free Agency then. Use the 9th pick on a right tackle. Take a wide receiver to complement Marshall on the other side. Floyd would be great but kind of like Marshall. Use the rest of the draft to get OLine help and a FS. :makeadeal

 

[mriguy]

I didnt say he was a crappy QB just that he didint throw a TD after Broyles got hurt and struggled his last three games. I would take him over Reese anyday but I was just saying he looked bad his last few games.

 

[irishff1014]

Stop being so negative bro! You are bringing me down!

I am going to have to agree with phork here.I don't know if we will win either game but lets see was the Talent and coaches can cook up. Yes the secondary will be you but the d-line will be playing with alot of time under theirs belts. ALot can happen between now and then.

 

[IrishLax]

FYI he's coming back because he had a bad year... because he is a system QB who relied heavily on the pure awesomeness that was Ryan Broyles.

If he was remotely close to a 1st round talent he would be gone and be taken in the top 10 picks. But he isn't. And honestly I think he doesn't make Oklahoma much better than they would be with Blake Bell.

Matt Barkley... on the other hand... man, we got SCREWED on that one lol

 

[irishff1014]

FYI he's coming back because he had a bad year... because he is a system QB who relied heavily on the pure awesomeness that was Ryan Broyles.

If he was remotely close to a 1st round talent he would be gone and be taken in the top 10 picks. But he isn't. And honestly I think he doesn't make Oklahoma much better than they would be with Blake Bell.

Matt Barkley... on the other hand... man, we got SCREWED on that one lol

Yeah Bell is a much bigger threat to run. I haven't really seen him throw the ball much to judde that. But he is a threat inside the 20. Seems like every time he touches the ball he scores.