Andrew Luck Will Not Enter 2011 Draft

[BallHawk]

...or he actually genuinely wants to stay in college and get his diploma. We're talking about a Stanford kid here, this is no James Jones and his 9 ACT score. Gotta respect a kid who isn't counting down the hours til he can cash in. Good for him.

[packrulz]

Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt to enter NFL draft
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • JANUARY 6, 2011
MADISON — Defensive end J.J. Watt will leave the University of Wisconsin early to enter the NFL draft.

In a letter to Badgers fans posted on a school website, Watt said the decision to forgo his final year of eligibility was one of the most difficult of his life — but his dream is to play in the NFL.

“I will be a Wisconsin Badger for life and am forever grateful for all of the love and support that the fans, administration and community have shown to my family and I during my time in Madison,” Watt said. “I could not have asked for better coaches to play for, better teammates to play alongside, or a better fan base to represent throughout my collegiate career.”

Watt had 21 tackles for loss this season and played a leading role for a team that made it to the Rose Bowl, where the Badgers lost to TCU.

UW coach Bret Bielema said Watt will be missed.

“I talked with multiple people connected with NFL teams on J.J.’s behalf to make sure he had the best information to make an informed decision and one that he was comfortable with,” Bielema said in a statement. “He is a terrific example of what we want our student-athletes to be, both on and off the field, and he will be missed.”

It’s another sign of offseason turnover for the Badgers. Defensive coordinator Dave Doeren was named head coach at Northern Illinois in December, and offensive coordinator Paul Chryst has been linked with an open job at Texas.

Watt thanked his family, friends, teachers, coaches and teammates for their support.

“As I move forward with my life, I will continue to live by the morals and values that have helped to get me where I am today,” Watt said. “I am very excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for both myself and for the JJ Watt Foundation, as we try to spread the message to kids that if you ’Dream Big and Work Hard,’ anything is possible.”

[MichiganPackerFan]

...or he actually genuinely wants to stay in college and get his diploma. We're talking about a Stanford kid here, this is no James Jones and his 9 ACT score. Gotta respect a kid who isn't counting down the hours til he can cash in. Good for him.

probably both, this is a STANFORD education, it's not like leaving Generic State University.

[Patler]

...or he actually genuinely wants to stay in college and get his diploma. We're talking about a Stanford kid here, this is no James Jones and his 9 ACT score. Gotta respect a kid who isn't counting down the hours til he can cash in. Good for him.

I've never quite understood that reasoning. If he really does want to play in the NFL, if he feels he is ready to do it, if his coaches advise that he is ready to make the jump, and if the NFL input is that he would go in the first round, he should declare for the draft now.

It is not a choice between the NFL and a college degree. He can always complete the degree requirements later, while in the NFL or after he is out. The NFL opportunity may never be as great as it is now, an injury or other players ascents next year might change things significantly.

I suspect that for whatever reason he just doesn't feel ready to do it yet, on a personal or emotional basis. That's fine. If he doesn't feel ready to do it, he shouldn't.

[Joemailman]

I'm thinking he figures he can have it all. He can go back to Stanford, compete for the National Championship and the Heisman Trophy, get a degree in Architectural Design at Stanford, and then go into the NFL. The odds that he will suffer a career ending injury playing quarterback are miniscule. Sam Bradford suffered a pretty serious shoulder injury and was still the #1 pick.

[mraynrand]

I've never quite understood that reasoning. If he really does want to play in the NFL, if he feels he is ready to do it, if his coaches advise that he is ready to make the jump, and if the NFL input is that he would go in the first round, he should declare for the draft now.

It is not a choice between the NFL and a college degree. He can always complete the degree requirements later, while in the NFL or after he is out. The NFL opportunity may never be as great as it is now, an injury or other players ascents next year might change things significantly.

I suspect that for whatever reason he just doesn't feel ready to do it yet, on a personal or emotional basis. That's fine. If he doesn't feel ready to do it, he shouldn't.

If he wants to play in the NFL right now, then he probably would. Maybe he just likes being in college and finishing his college career, then go pro. Sure you can always go back and get the degree, but that's a different experience. Maybe he just likes what he has now - a great college experience with peers and teammates his age to whom he can relate, etc.

It's just as easy to say that the NFL opportunity could be worse now; that by coming out early he gets injured playing behind some sucky NFL O-line. Life is a crapshoot to a certain extent.

Your last line seems to be all that really matters.

[Patler]

Your last line seems to be all that really matters.

Which is precisely why I concluded with it!

My point is just that. They stay in school because they want to play for the National Championship, continuing being a campus god, are intimidated a little by the NFL, whatever.

To stay "to get his degree" just doesn't seem like a legitimate reason, because he doesn't give up the opportunity by going pro. The opportunity to finish at his school will always there. Schools go out of their way to make it happen for their pro-athletes.

[Patler]

The opinions of a few others:

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/01/06/andrew-luck-clearly-isnt-thinking-like-a-stanford-man/?icid=main|netscape|dl11|sec1_lnk3|194040

[Lurker64]

Really, I'm of the mind that nobody should ever criticize a redshirt sophomore for going back to school. You get 4 years of eligibility, guys can make a mistake by not stopping after 3, but to rip a guy for not stopping after 2? That's unconscionable to me.

[mraynrand]

Which is precisely why I concluded with it!

My point is just that. They stay in school because they want to play for the National Championship, continuing being a campus god, are intimidated a little by the NFL, whatever.

To stay "to get his degree" just doesn't seem like a legitimate reason, because he doesn't give up the opportunity by going pro. The opportunity to finish at his school will always there. Schools go out of their way to make it happen for their pro-athletes.

That's a good point about the degree (in isolation). So what happens if Hairball goes Pro or Back to UofM? Who will coach Luck next year?