Adrian Taylor Announces He'll Return Next Season

OU defensive tackle Adrian Taylor announced he'll return to the Sooners next year, instead of heading into the NFL Draft.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:22 am

By: News On 6

Adrian Taylor Announces He'll Return Next Season

Originally Published: Dec 6, 2009 8:39 PM CDT

More Bowl Coverage from Oklahoma Sports
- Stoops Says Stanford will be Challenge for Sooners (12/6)
- Oklahoma State Cowboys to Face Ole Miss in Cotton Bowl (12/6)
- Oklahoma Sooners to Take on Stanford in Sun Bowl (12/6)

Oklahoma Sports Staff & AP Wire Reports

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- Sooner defensive tackle Adrian Taylor announced Sunday he would not enter the NFL draft, instead opting to return to OU for another season.

"I'll be back," Taylor told AP after the Sooners agreed to face Stanford in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve. "I know some people have been wondering but I'll be back."

Taylor has been an influential defensive player for the Sooners, starting in the last 27 games for OU, beginning in the 2007 season. Currently, Taylor is tied for fourth on the team with 3.5 sacks and seven tackles for a loss this season.

Taylor earned honorable mention on the all-Big 12 team last week.

"Me and my dad talked about it and I'll be back," Taylor said. "I feel like I need another year."

"I've been here a long time," he added. "What's another 12 months?"

When the Sooners face the Cardinal in the Sun Bowl, Taylor will face his second cousin, freshman Stepfan Taylor, backup running back for Stanford. Both cousins went to Mansfield High School in Texas.

"Everybody's going to want him to do well. Everybody's going to want me to do well. A little family feud there," Adrian Taylor said. "It's going to be cool, though."

Stepfan Taylor is a backup to Toby Gerhard, possible Heisman Trophy candidate.

"It's going to be a different change of pace, a big difference of a conference," Adrian Taylor said. "I don't know what kind of a game plan they have or anything like that. It's going to be exciting to see how they attack us, what game plan we come up with because we've got some of the best coaches when it comes to game-planning."

"We definitely need to go out there and just break that (three-game) losing streak in the bowl games."