/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/24442049/20131004_ajw_ac4_015.0.jpg)
The Oregon offense produced at a blistering pace in 2013. And with today's news, that production will hopefully improve improve in 2014.
Marcus Mariota and Hroniss Grasu will be sticking around at Oregon for another year. Both are two-time first team all conference performers and their return along with the standard infusion of offensive talent should mean that Oregon will continue to wear out scoreboards in 2014.
Both players will put off the NFL for one more year, and both have very promising careers. Mariota would have almost definitely been a top 10 pick in the 2014 draft. His combination of arm strength, decision-making, and top end speed had him moving quickly up the draft boards this season.
Grasu anchored a struggling Oregon interior line in 2013, but his strength, size, and athleticism would have put him as possibly the first center taken in the draft.
By sticking around one more year, Mariota will get his degree before leaving Oregon. The Ducks will now wait on De'Anthony Thomas and Ifo Ekpre-Olomu on their draft decisions. Both have stated they'll make their decision by the end of the month.
At the very least, this news should give Duck fans a lot of optimism for 2014. With Mariota coming back, the Ducks will once again be loaded offensively. If they can clean up some of the 4th down and red zone issues, they could be the most potent offense we've seen at Oregon.
More from Mariota and Grasu
Grasu: "The University of Oregon is a special place and I’m extremely happy to be returning for my senior year."
— Ryan Thorburn (@rgduckfootball) December 3, 2013
Mariota: "I look forward to earning my degree next year and to the rest of my career at this great University."
— Ryan Thorburn (@rgduckfootball) December 3, 2013