At Stanford, it's a Lucky day
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has decided to stay in college to get his degree instead of immediately cashing in on the riches of being the likely No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has decided to stay in college to get his degree instead of immediately cashing in on the riches of being the likely No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.
Luck announced his decision yesterday, more than a week before the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft. Luck, who sat out his first year as a redshirt, has 2 years of eligibility remaining but is on track to graduate next spring.
"I am committed to earning my degree in architectural design from Stanford University and am on track to accomplish this at the completion of the spring quarter of 2012," Luck said in a statement issued through the school. Stanford said Luck was not available for further comment.
Luck's decision to stay at Stanford comes as coach Jim Harbaugh is being wooed by NFL teams for a possible job. Harbaugh met Wednesday with officials with the San Francisco 49ers and was set to meet with Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross yesterday in the Bay area, two people with knowledge of the situation said.
New Denver Broncos chief football executive John Elway has said he hopes to interview Harbaugh for their job.
It's unclear whether Luck's decision to stay in school will impact Harbaugh's decision whether to leave for an NFL job this year. If Harbaugh does leave Stanford, the opportunity to coach Luck next season will likely make Stanford a plum assignment.
Luck was the runner-up this season to Auburn's Cam Newton for the Heisman Trophy and will now be one of the favorites for next year's award.
In other draft-related news:
* Virginia Tech tailback Darren Evans, who missed all of his sophomore season while rehabbing from knee surgery, isn't taking the chance that it could happen again. The redshirt junior said he is entering the NFL draft . . . Also entering the draft is Wisconsin defensive end J.J. Watt.
Noteworthy
* Injured Rutgers player Eric LeGrand has movement in his shoulders and sensation throughout his body, the school said.
It marked the first update in LeGrand's condition since last month when the university announced that the defensive tackle had some feeling in his hands.
The 20-year-old was hurt on Oct. 16, making a tackle on a kickoff return against Army in a game at New Meadowlands Stadium. He was treated at Hackensack University Medical Center for about 2 weeks before transferring to Kessler Institute, one of the nation's leaders in spinal cord rehabilitation.
In a bowl game last night:
* At Mobile, Ala., Austin Boucher threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns in his fourth career start and Miami of Ohio capped a historic turnaround season with a 35-21 win over Middle Tennessee State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
The RedHawks (10-4) are the first team in Football Bowl Subdivision history to win 10 games one season after losing 10. Miami finished a dismal 1-11 in 2009.
MTSU (6-7) won three games in a row to become bowl eligible, but was hurt by five turnovers.