“Let everybody know we’re going to stay.”
Those were the words of the mother of Washington running back Chris Polk, and, of course, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times has obliged.
With the momentum of a big bowl win over Nebraska firmly in their back pocket, the Huskies have even more reason for optimism heading into the 2011 offseason as their star back has decided to remain in school for another season. Edrena Polk said Tuesday that, yes, her son had considered early entry into the NFL, but the family decided it was best for the redshirt sophomore to return to the Huskies.
“Of course you are going to think about it,” Polk’s mother said. “That’s everyone’s dream. We just want to make sure he is ready. ... We had a talk and weighed the options and prayed about it, and the decision was then made to stay for another season.
“Right now we feel it’s best that he finish school and he also loves the team and loves the coaches there. So he feels it’s best that he stays.”
Polk rushed for 1,415 yards in 2010, the second-highest total in school history. He finished 13th in the country with an average of just under 109 yards per game.
With quarterback Jake Locker exhausting his eligibility and heading to the NFL, Polk’s return is a huge boost to UW’s offense and its importance is impossible to overstate.