Jonathan Stewart thought it over and decided he’s ready for the next step.
The junior running back announced his decision Friday to bypass his senior season at Oregon and enter the NFL Draft.
He met with Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti and Gary Campbell Thursday at 6 p.m. and made the decision earlier in the day. He shed little on the specifics of why he is going pro, saying he relied on his faith in making his decision.
Stewart received advice from former teammates and current NFL players Dante Rosario and Jordan Kent.
The draft evaluation considers Stewart a likely first round pick.
Stewart left a lasting impression on Oregon fans with his final performance in a Duck uniform in the Sun Bowl. In Oregon ‘s 56-21 win over South Florida , Stewart set a Sun Bowl record with a career-high 253 yards. Stewart had two touchdowns on the afternoon – one coming via a 71-yard run.
The native of Lacey, Wash. gained 1,722 yards this season and led Oregon with 11 touchdowns. He helped shake injury questions that had followed the running back in his first two seasons by appearing in all 13 games and playing through a turf toe injury.
See Monday’s Emerald for more coverage of Stewart’s decision.