Andrew Luck: 10 Reasons Why Staying at Stanford Is the Right Move
Andrew Luck shocked the college football world when he decided to forgo the 2011 NFL Draft to stay in school at Stanford, where coach Jim Harbaugh may or may not be on the move.
He's received some criticism for leaving money on the table and potentially falling in next year's draft (a la Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Locker) or getting hurt (a la former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford).
But I think it was a smart decision.
Here are 10 reasons why Luck's strange choice makes sense.
10. The College Experience Is Underrated
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College is the greatest time period of life. While that may not be true for a future NFL star, there's nothing like college, and Andrew Luck certainly doesn't want to leave his friends, professors and the school he loves.
I know I wouldn't want to leave college after three years. Why should it be any different for Luck?
9. He's Insuring Himself with a Degree
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As good as Luck is, there's no guarantee he'll be an NFL star or that he'll stay injury-free. Even if everything does go right, there's still life after the NFL.
Nearly 80 percent of NFL players go bankrupt within two years of retirement.
Getting a degree from Stanford—one of the best schools in the country—would ensure Luck that he would be just fine after retirement.
8. He's a Hero at Stanford
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As the star of a successful football team, Andrew Luck is a hero at Stanford.
He's loved by the fans and can't do any wrong. Why leave?
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. He's Not Jake Locker; He'll Still Be the Top Pick
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People bring up Jake Locker when saying Luck should enter the draft, but Luck isn't in the same situation.
Locker was a potential No. 1 pick—not the guarantee Luck was—who was coming off a shaky year with a 58.2 completion percentage. That number fell to 55.4 percent this year, and concerns about Locker's accuracy have increased.
But Luck doesn't have those concerns, improving his completion percentage to 70.7 this year. He's too good to have a Jake Locker-like year.
6. He Can Challenge for a National Championship
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Stanford already has a solid team in place and should be a Top Five team to start next season.
With a shot to win a national title, Luck would be crazy to leave.
5. He Could Use More Seasoning
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As good as Luck is, he only has two years of starting experience.
He may have been overwhelmed next year in the NFL, where he would almost definitely be pushed into starting action right away.
Another year of college will go a long way in his development. It makes sense in the long run to stay.
4. He Would Have Had No One to Throw to
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The Carolina Panthers reportedly would have picked Luck if he entered the draft, but Carolina isn't exactly built for a quarterback to succeed right away, as Jimmy Clausen can attest to.
Outside of Steve Smith, Luck would have had no reliable targets.
3. He Can Win a Heisman
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Luck will be one of the biggest favorites to win next year's Heisman Trophy.
With Cam Newton potentially leaving, he'll have an even better chance.
2. There's a Lockout Looming
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There has been a lot of talk about a potential NFL lockout next season.
With the option of staying at Stanford, graduating and enjoying college life, why walk into an uncertain labor situation?
Luck should wait to see how the situation plays out.
1. He Would Have Been on the Least Talented Team in the League
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The team with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft always has the worst record in the league. But that doesn't mean it has the least talent.
If Luck left this year, he'd be going to the team with the fewest pieces around him to help him win. If he waits until next year, he'll likely fall into a better situation—at least a little bit better.
Matt Rudnitsky is a student at the University of Michigan and a Featured Columnist/writing intern at Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Mattrud.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
