Oregon junior defensive end DeForest Buckner announced Wednesday that he’ll return to school for his senior season.
“After sitting down with my parents and weighing all the pros and cons, I have come to the conclusion that it is best for me to return to school for my senior year,” Buckner told Rob Moseley of GoDucks.com. “I am close to finishing my degree and that is very important to me. That is the reason I came here in the first place.”
Buckner started every game for the Ducks this past season, recording 81 tackles and four sacks.
“I love the University of Oregon and see big things for us next year. Plus I feel that another year of experience here and under Coach (Ron) Aiken can only help my development and better prepare me for the next level.”
Buckner’s defensive line coach at Oregon, Ron Aiken, had this to say about him returning to Oregon.
“We’re obviously very excited in regards to DeForest’s decision to return next year,” Aiken said. “He is a good student-athlete as well as an outstanding football player, and we look forward to having his leadership back for another year.”
Buckner was viewed as a late-first round to early second round prospect by many NFL Draft analysts. CBSSports had him ranked as the 50th best player and the eighth best defensive end overall in the 2015 NFL draft class if he had to chose to enter.
After Oregon’s 42-20 loss to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff National Championship, Buckner sounded like a player dead-set on returning to school.
“The offseason is coming and we got to get ready for next year,” he said.
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