Samie Parker, the Ducks’ leading receiver last season, is passing up this year’s NFL draft to stay at Oregon for his senior season.
Parker, a 2002 all-conference honorable mention, led the Ducks with 49 catches and eight touchdown receptions as a 13-game starter last year. Only five other Pacific-10 Conference players caught more touchdown passes during the season than Parker.
Parker enters his final season sitting at 12th on Oregon’s career touchdown receptions list, with 12 touchdowns. He also ranks 14th in receiving yards with 1,472, more than half of them — 742 — coming last season.
The California native is only 23 catches shy of breaking into the top 10 of Oregon’s career receptions list as he currently stands at 21st with 90. It is very plausible that Parker could enter the top 10 by staying his final season, which Bellotti has nothing but good things to say about.
“Obviously, I’m very pleased that both Samie and Keith (Lewis) have decided to stay in school,” Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “They will both benefit from their decisions in the long run as well as the short term.”
The 5-10, 177-pound Parker joins junior free safety Keith Lewis as possible NFL draftees who have decided to stay in school for their final year of eligibility.
Lewis led the team with five interceptions last season, for a total of 16 yards. He also had a 33-yard punt return and forced one fumble during the season.
Lewis earned a Pac-10 Conference honorable mention award for a defensive back during the Ducks 2001 campaign, and was the Pac-10 defensive player of the week after the 2001 game against Wisconsin.
“They have already accomplished a lot of good things throughout their careers, but I believe they have the potential to do some great things,” Bellotti said. “I am excited they have decided to contribute to next year’s success.”
Two Ducks have already declared eligible for the draft. Running back Onterrio Smith and tight end George Wrighster, both redshirt juniors, opted to give up their final year of eligibility and enter the draft.