Oklahoma QB Landry Jones Will Hold Off On NFL And Return For Senior Season

Oklahoma and head football coach Bob Stoops received a New Year's gift with the announcement Thursday that quarterback Landry Jones will not turn pro just yet, instead returning to OU this fall for his senior season.

Jones, who hails from Artesia, N.M., is Oklahoma's all-time leading passer with 12,389 yards in his first three seasons. He finished fourth in the country in the 2011 season, averaging 343 passing yards a game. In his three seasons at OU, Jones has started 38 of 40 games. Since stepping in for the injured Sam Bradford in his redshirt freshman season, Jones has won 30 of the 38 games he has started and has completed 63 percent of his pass attempts, with 93 touchdowns and 41 interceptions.

Jones admits the lure of the NFL was a strong one, but "I want to accomplish the goals that I set before I got here, and there is still a lot more to do," he said.

"We hope to have another opportunity to make a title run," Jones said. "Most of the offensive line returns, and we have several receivers and backs that return, too. We've also got a lot of guys back on defense, so we're confident that we can be a strong team."

The Sooners lose 16 seniors from the 2011 team, including the team's all-time leader in pass receptions, receiving yardage and receiving touchdowns, Ryan Broyles.

Needless to say, the news that Jones is coming back for the 2012 season was music to Stoops' ears. "We're excited that he's coming back to build on what has already been an outstanding career," the OU head coach said in a statement. "We expect another great year from him, and like the fact that that he's determined to be even better."

Jones owns 21 career records at Oklahoma and is among the NCAA's active career leaders in passing.

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