We haven’t yet reached the first-ever early signing period, and Oregon has already bolstered its 2018 defense.
Jalen Jelks confirmed to The Oregonian that he has decided to push off the NFL and will instead return to Oregon for another season. The redshirt junior indicated that he needs to work on his game before he takes it to the next level.
“I’m back for sure,” the redshirt junior defensive end told the newspaper. “I talked to my parents and my family and everything and just probably the best decision for me is to make the best out of next season and make a lot more plays than I did this season.
“I missed a lot of plays, and if I can capitalize on that and translate it to next season I could contribute a lot to the draft.”
This season, Jelks led the Ducks in tackles for loss with 15; in sacks with 6.5; and in quarterback hits with four. The tackles for loss were second in the Pac-12 to Washington State’s Hercules Mata’afa‘s 21.5.