Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota has requested that his draft stock be evaluated by the NFL despite his announcement on Dec. 3 that he would return to play for the Ducks in 2014, according to a report from NFLDraftScout.com.
The request doesn’t affect Mariota’s eligibility and he is under no obligation to follow its recommendations.
Oregon associate athletic director Craig Pintens said via Twitter that Mariota made the request following the Ducks’ final game against Oregon State, but that Mariota’s decision to return will stand regardless of what the evaluation shows.
Mariota addressed the matter on Wednesday: “To clear any confusion, I’m very blessed and thankful to come back,” he said. “This is the best decision for my family and the best decision for me. We are standing firm and we support that decision all the way.”
The sophomore quarterback threw for 3,412 yards and 30 touchdowns with just four interceptions and also rushed for 582 yards and nine scores this season. He is expected to be a top 10 NFL pick when he does decide to enter the draft.
