National Football League

Baylor DE Oakman to return for senior season

Published Dec. 29, 2014 9:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

DALLAS -- Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman will return for his senior season and not enter the 2015 NFL Draft.

"It's what you're supposed to do. It's not my time. I've got unfinished business," Oakman said Monday.

The junior Penn State transfer is the Big 12 leader with 18.5 tackles for loss and had 10 sacks with three forced fumbles as a first-year starter in 2014. He earned first-team All-Big 12 honors this season and received votes for Defensive Player of the Year and Defensive Lineman of the Year in the conference.

He was almost universally projected as a first-round pick in NFL mock drafts.

"I could be No. 1. That's the way I see it. If I'm top 15 now, to me I haven't done anything spectacular," Oakman said. "The things I could do in this offseason could catapult me to No. 1? S---, why not stay?"

Oakman submitted paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Committee, which gives underclassmen an idea where they would project in the draft. He hadn't heard back before Monday, when he announced his decision.

Oakman said he'd changed his mind several times in the last week, but said the quality of Baylor's team in 2015, which could win a third consecutive Big 12 title, was a "huge factor" in his final decision.

"I felt my body of work wasn't good enough. I couldn't care less what any NFL scout has to say, mock draft, it's about me and the guys I play with," Oakman said. "I sit and watch my film. I'm a student of the game. ... There's plays I completely dominate but at the same time, I could dominate every play."

Baylor defensive coordinator Phil Bennett said his NFL sources told him another year is what Oakman needs to fulfill his potential.

"He's still raw. He's worked hard. ... The sky's the limit for him," Bennett said. "You could look at a year from now and you're talking about a (Jadeveon) Clowney. One of those--(Ndamukong) Suhs, a J.J. Watts--he'll test well, he'll play well and I just think it's delayed gratification."

Bennett pointed to Oakman filling out his 6-foot-9, 280-pound frame and improving his technique as two things that will help him reach his potential as a senior.

Oakman initially announced his plans in a room with TV reporters while Bennett was meeting with print reporters. A big smile crossed Bennett's face when he was told Oakman had made his announcement in the room next door.

"I like it. That's the first win of the week," Bennett said. "We've been honest with Shawn. Shawn is ours. We love Shawn and what he's done. We do what's best. We haven't pressured him, we haven't said, 'You've gotta stay,' and he knows that. If it's a deal where it'll benefit him and his family, I'm all in."

Baylor defensive back Orion Stewart heard the news when he moved between Q&As with television and print reporters, but ran over to Oakman before he began his session with print media at the Cotton Bowl and gave him a big hug.

"You're coming back, ain't you? I had to show you some love. I just found out myself! My boy's coming back!" Stewart said.

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