Oregon State quarterback Sean Mannion will put his NFL plans on hold for one more season. Oregon State has confirmed Mannion will return to the Beavers for the 2014 season.
In a statement released by the university Monday afternoon Mannion said he is excited to return for his final year of eligibility.
“I’m excited to return for my senior year,” Mannion, a two-time team captain, said. “I weighed the pros and cons of making myself eligible for the Draft with my family and current coaching staff, and came to the conclusion that I have decided to continue my career with my teammates at Oregon State.”
Mannion returning for another year is a good decision given the way he performed this season. Mannion put up big numbers for the entire season, passing for 4,662 yards and 37 touchdowns in a pass-heavy offensive system. His shortcoming came in some of the biggest games of the year for Oregon State. In a five-game losing streak to close out the regular season Mannion was intercepted 11 times, and he threw just seven touchdowns in that dismal stretch. With pass-happy offenses often looked down on by NFL franchises and scouts, Mannion returning to prove he is more than a system quarterback is a wise decision.
After getting an evaluation by NFL personnel, it was determined Mannion would have been expected to be third-round draft choice. If he can rebound for a better all-around season in 2014 his stock could rise. He is also chasing down the Pac 12’s career passing mark of 12,274 yards, currently held by former USC quarterback Matt Barkley. Mannion needs just 1,839 to break the record, which he should easily break by mid-October at the latest.