Oklahoma football: Cornerback Aaron Colvin to put off draft, return for senior season

Colvin — just like the rest of the OU defense — struggled later in the season, with the Sooners facing high-powered spread offenses. In a 50-49 victory at West Virginia, receiver Stedman Bailey caught 10 passes against Oklahoma for 205 yards and four touchdowns.

Colvin did intercept one pass in that game, though, and tip another ball to safety Javon Harris, which he picked off.

Colvin played cornerback as a true freshman, started at safety as a sophomore and switched back to cornerback before his junior year. He's started 26 career games.

Colvin said in the days leading up to the Cotton Bowl that his grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board wasn't as high as he hoped, but was still good enough for him to consider leaving college early.

That day, Colvin also said some goals — like winning the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back and earning All-America honors — remained unaccomplished, and might ultimately persuade him to return to school.

Stoops told reporters Friday that Colvin was the last non-senior he expected to hear from either way regarding this year's NFL Draft.

Draft-eligible underclassmen have until Tuesday to decide if they'll leave school early.

As an Owasso High School senior in 2009, Colvin was named to The Oklahoman's elite All-State football team along with future college teammates Julian Wilson (Southmoore), Austin Haywood (Southmoore) and Bronson Irwin (Mustang).

Wilson and Irwin each played significant roles in the defensive backfield and on the offensive line, respectively, for Oklahoma throughout the 2012 season; Haywood left the team midway through the 2011 season.