Ifo Ekpre-Olomu returning to Oregon for senior season

While the Ducks had some bad news last night with De'Anthony Thomas' decision to go to the NFL, Duck fans got some great news this morning, as the University has announced (via Instagram) that All-American cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu will return to Oregon for his senior season.

The news has been rumored for some time, but making it official (especially after the departure of Coach Aliotti) is great news for Oregon's chances at a conference title in 2014. Ekpre-Olomu would have almost definitely been a first round draft pick in the 2014 draft. In most mock drafts he's been going in the middle of the first round. He can play all over the field, against the pass or against the run, and will almost certainly shut down half of the field next year.

Ifo's decision means that the Ducks will have some great talent coming back that could have gone pro. Ifo, Marcus Mariota, and Hroniss Grasu are all two-time first team all conference players, and all would have been high draft picks if they'd declared this year.

With so much talent returning, the Ducks will likely be the favorite to win the Pac-12 North next year.

UPDATE: The University has put out a release with more information.

"The two main factors related to my decision to return were my continued progression as a person and a player, and I felt Oregon was my best option to achieve those goals and improve my situation for next year," Ekpre-Olomu said Monday.

"I should be able to finish my degree by next fall, possibly by the end of the summer. Football is only one phase of who I am; my degree will be forever. Secondly was my ability to make an impact and become a top (draft) pick, and I felt staying one more year would only help me."