OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson said
Thursday he has not yet decided whether he will declare himself
eligible for the NFL draft.
"I have spent the last few days considering my options to
either enter the NFL draft or stay at OU. The facts are that I have
not hired any representation and I have not declared for the
draft," Peterson said in a statement released by Oklahoma.
Peterson is considered a likely first-round draft pick if he
were to leave the Sooners and skip his senior season. He has given
no indication whether he will stay in college or turn pro. The
deadline for juniors to enter the draft is Monday.
"He's very unsure," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Thursday in
a telephone interview with The Associated Press. "He's still
trying to figure out what he wants for his life and what he feels
is best for him."
Citing two anonymous sources, The Dallas Morning News reported
Wednesday night on its Web site that Peterson had decided to enter
the draft and met with Stoops to inform him.
"The facts are that I have not hired any representation and I have not declared for the
draft."
-- Oklahoma RB Adrian Peterson
Peterson and Stoops both denied that report.
"My meetings with Coach Stoops and my parents have been to
discuss all the scenarios," Peterson said in the statement. "I
see a lot of options in both so I am still undecided on what I want
to do. I wish people would give me the opportunity to decide. Once
I do, I will make an announcement at the right time. Any reports
that are different than that are false."
Added Stoops: "They said that our meeting was to inform me.
That was anything but the case. The meeting was with me and his
parents and just discussing through all the possibilities and what
all the different scenarios might be. He was at that time still
very unsure of what he truly wanted."
Stoops said he plans to keep in touch with Peterson.
"I'm sure I will. We'll talk daily, what he's thinking about,
what he's feeling. Whatever the young guy wants, I'm all for,"
Stoops said. "I think people close to him respect that, that this
is his life to live and he needs to do it where he satisfies what
he feels he needs to."
Peterson missed seven games this season with a broken
collarbone, but still finished with 1,012 yards rushing and 12
touchdowns. He ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns, including a
25-yarder on the first play of overtime, in Oklahoma's 43-42
overtime loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.
The runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 2004, Peterson set an
NCAA freshman record with 1,925 yards before injuries derailed his
sophomore and junior seasons. He missed all or part of four games
with a sprained ankle last season.
"I think what's been underplayed from everybody is Adrian's a
great competitor and he loves playing here, he loves playing with
his team and I think also that people don't realize maybe in the
end he feels he hasn't gotten everything he set out to get,"
Stoops said. "He maybe feels a little unfulfilled that way."
Stoops said his goal is to make sure Peterson is well-educated
and bases his decision on accurate information.
"I think in the end he's still undecided for his life what he
wants," Stoops said. "Adrian's had people trying to tell him what
to do for a long period of time and he's used to listening to what
he wants, not what everyone else thinks he ought to do, which is
what I think a lot of people respect and admire about him."
With 4,045 yards in three seasons, Peterson ranks third on
Oklahoma's career rushing list, behind 1978 Heisman winner Billy
Sims (4,118) and Hall of Famer Joe Washington (4,071). He also
holds the NCAA with nine straight 100-yard games to start his
career.
In recent years, defensive tackle Tommie Harris and safety
Brodney Pool opted to skip their senior seasons at Oklahoma to
enter the draft. Quarterback Jason White and linebacker Rufus
Alexander are among those who chose to return.
"Some other guys maybe felt they've run their course and done
what they set out to do. Maybe he feels there's still some more to
do. That's up to him to decide," Stoops said. "There isn't any
pressure at all from our end. We support him fully in whatever he
wants to do. In the end, it's his life to life, and I think that's
to be respected."