Bo Nix explains returning to college over NFL

Bo Nix opted to return to college football rather than enter the NFL Draft this past spring. By giving it one more crack at Oregon, Nix has a chance to do something special in his final season.

In turn, that means he could increase his draft stock for 2024 in a class that is likely to feature Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. Based on Nix’s success last fall, he has a chance to be one of the best overall players in the sport this fall.

As he put it, Nix does not want to have any regrets before he turns professional.

“Well, I’m still eager,” Nix said Friday on SportsCenter. “My mind hasn’t necessarily changed. But at the same time, I felt like you know, why give up on the opportunity to go out and win a championship in college football while I have the chance? I feel like the NFL will always be there but right now, I wanted to exhaust everything I had in college.

“Give it everything I had, you know, for my teammates for myself. I don’t want to have any regrets. And so, with one more year, I felt like it was in my best interest to stay.”

There were career highs across the board when Nix got a fresh start at Oregon. He had 3,593 yards, 29 touchdowns, seven interceptions, a 71.9% completion percentage, 510 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.

In his career, Nix has 10,844 yards, 68 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, a 62.9% completion percentage, 1,379 rushing yards and 32 rushing touchdowns.

As a member of the Class of 2019, NIx was a five-star recruit out of Pinson (Ala.) Scottsboro School, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 3 overall prospect in the state, the No. 2 quarterback in the class and the No. 32 overall prospect in the class.

Will 2023 be better? On3’s J.D. PicKell thinks so.

“It’s a new offense,” PicKell said. “I think it’ll be a similar offense for him schematically in terms of what they ask him to do. I think it’ll yield phenomenal results and I think Bo Nix is set to pop off yet again. We saw the numbers last year, it’s not a question anymore of, ‘oh, can Bo Nix do it? Can you do it consistently? He did it consistently last year.

“I think if Oregon wins a few more games last year, Bo Nix is probably in New York City for the Heisman Trophy. So with that being said, I think he picks up right where he left off last year. Bo Nix will be a top five quarterback in college football, mic drop, period, the end.”