Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti held a news conference Friday afternoon regarding the decision of Oregon players to enter the NFL draft and discussed his feelings about the situation.
Tailback Onterrio Smith and tight end George Wrighster announced Thursday they will not play in their final seasons of eligibility with Oregon, but will enter the NFL draft instead.
“It’s all premature, because the actual deadline is next Wednesday, (Jan. 15),” Bellotti said. “Onterrio and George have told me that they are going out. I am going to support them in their decision.”
Smith completed his junior season with the Ducks with 1,141 yards on 244 carries with 12 touchdowns. The Californian native is ranked as the seventh all-time leading rusher in Oregon history and was a Heisman Trophy candidate in his junior season.
Wrighster has also announced that there is no chance he will return to Oregon after setting a school record this season with 41 receptions, the most ever by an Oregon tight end. The 6-4 junior had 568 yards and six touchdowns for the Ducks this season.
Of the four Oregon juniors who have considered the NFL draft, Smith and Wrighster have made it seem official, while Keith Lewis has said he will stay and Samie Parker is still undecided, according to Bellotti.
Bellotti exuded some surprise, yet had nothing but best wishes for his juniors at the next level.
“We had two very frank discussions (with Smith) about the pros and cons,” Bellotti said. “And I was surprised in all honesty that it came to that — not that I had any forgone conclusions. He led most of the discussion of why he should stay, and I was just very honest with him about what he has done and what he can do in the future.”
Bellotti commented that he has had discussion with NFL sources about the likelihood of where Smith and Wrighster would go in the draft. He refrained from going into detail, yet said he has fairly reliable confirmation that Smith will go in the first round.
Throughout the past few days, both juniors have spoken with Bellotti about their decisions and what type of roles they would play if they stayed to play for Oregon in their final years of eligibility. Despite the pros and cons, both players expressed sentiment that entering the NFL draft would be in their best interest.
“I wish them well, and I hope it works out,” Bellotti said. “I want them to be happy with their decision, whether they stay or go.”
Smith and Wrighster have both left their marks on the records books in Oregon history. Smith’s final season was the sixth-best all-time on Oregon’s single-season rushing list.
Wrighster finished his career as a second-team all-conference selection in 2002, and ends things with the Ducks with 53 receptions for 694 yards.
Nothing is official yet, as athletes have until Wednesday to make their final decisions to enter the draft or play in their final season of eligibility. And even then, there is a 72-hour period that follows for the athlete to withdraw his name.
“Anything isn’t over until it’s over,” Bellotti said. “It’s just like recruiting, with whoever gets that last word or that last pitch. I would say right now that Onterrio and George are going out for sure, Keith is staying for sure, and Samie we will know by the end of the week.”
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