Pittsburgh RB McCoy to return for junior season

Nov 25, 2008 - 9:25 PM PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Saying that he is not prepared to make the jump to the NFL, Pittsburgh tailback LeSean McCoy announced Tuesday that he will return to school for his junior season.

McCoy made the announcement amid speculation that he would opt to enter next year's NFL draft.

"Everyone keeps trying to push the idea that this is my last game at Heinz Field," McCoy said, alluding to Friday's contest against West Virginia. "I'm not going anywhere."

The Pennsylvania native has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons at Pittsburgh, but said he wants to win a Big East Conference title.

"There is a lot of stuff I have to prove and the thing is, I don't think I've done enough here at this university and there is a lot of stuff I have to achieve here," he added.

McCoy said he announced his return before the end of the season to put to rest rumors of his departure.

The rumors may have affected his performance. After five straight 100-yard games, he has combined to run for only 121 yards in the Panthers' last two contests.

"It is something I wanted to squash and get it over with and not have to talk about it because I am getting a little fed up with it," McCoy said.

Still, McCoy has rushed for 1,125 yards with two games remaining - the second-highest total in the Big East behind Connecticut's Donald Brown.

McCoy went over 1,000 yards with a season-high 169 yards in Pittsburgh's 36-33, four-overtime win at Notre Dame on November 1.