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Oklahoma DE Ethan Downs to return for senior year in 2024

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•12/04/23•

ChandlerVessels

NCAA Football: Arkansas State at Oklahoma
Sep 2, 2023; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Ethan Downs (40) in action against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma defensive end Ethan Downs plans to return for his senior season in 2024, he announced Monday evening. Downs has spent the past three seasons with the Sooners and would be eligible to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, but cited a desire to improve his stock with another year.

“I plan on (returning),” he said on Sooner Sports Talk. “I got to get better. I got to.”

Downs finished this season with 28 tackles (6.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks and six QB hurries to go along with an interception. He spent the year as a starter at defensive end for the second straight year.

After playing every game as a true freshman in 2021, Downs moved into a starting role as a sophomore in 2022. He finished the year with a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, nine QB hurries and also recovered a fumble. He really came on toward the end of the season to record six tackles for loss and two sacks over the final four games.

Unfortunately, that didn’t quite carry over into this year, leading Ethan Downs to make the decision to return to Oklahoma in 2024. That will be his final season of eligibility and he’ll aim to make the most of it.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.