Now that De’Anthony Thomas and Terrance Mitchell have announced their decisions to enter the NFL draft, Ifo Ekpre-Olomu is probably the only Oregon underclassman who isn’t sure if he’ll stay at Oregon or head to the NFL.
Offensive coordinator Scott Frost also might leave. He’s been mentioned as a head coaching candidate, reportedly being interviewed last month for the Boise State vacancy.
These two Ducks have undoubtedly weighed the pros and cons for staying and departing. Below are the arguments for each side and what each player/coach should ultimately decide.
Ifo Ekpre Olomu (DB)
Why he should stay — With cornerback Terrance Mitchell and safeties Brian Jackson and Avery Patterson all gone next season, Ekpre-Olomu would be the only starter left from Oregon’s elite secondary. He could get exposed if he stays, but imagine if he still plays well without those other stars to support him. NFL personnel would go crazy for him.
Why he should go — CBS, Yahoo!, Bleacher Report, SB Nation, pretty much everyone is projecting Ekpre-Olomu to be a first-round pick, so he might be passing up a one-time opportunity if he spurns the NFL for one more year of college. Plus, injuries are always lurking and flaws can become increasingly exposed with another year of unpaid football.
What he should do — Go. Unlike Thomas and Mitchell, who are projected to be mid-to-late round draft picks, staying at Oregon provides almost no professional or financial upside for Ekpre-Olomu. His stock is probably as high as it will ever be.
Scott Frost (OC)
Why he should stay — Frost’s situation mostly depends on the job offers he receives. If big-time schools (even bigger than Boise State) are offering him head coaching gigs, he should jump at the opportunity. But what if he flames out? A job as good as Oregon’s offensive coordinator probably wouldn’t be available for Frost in that case. Staying for at least one more year (with one of the nation’s best offenses) would give Frost the opportunity to improve his resume and get more experience in a demanding role.
Why he should go — Schools like Boise State might not come calling again. Like Ekpre-Olomu, another year might cause prospective employers to look at Frost with a harsher eye. If he has a chance to take an incredible job, he shouldn’t hope it will still be there down the road.
What he should do — Stay. With the amount of talent returning on offense, Frost will likely become a better head coaching candidate with another year at Oregon under his belt.
Follow Victor Flores on Twitter @vflores415