Oklahoma's Kenny Stills: 'I had an opportunity to pursue my dream'

“I told him I had an opportunity to pursue my dream, and my dream was to get to the NFL,” the former Sooners receiver told The Oklahoman in a telephone interview Friday.

“I didn't want there to be any hard feelings, and I hoped he wished me the best. It was definitely very difficult for me. I feel like we left on a really good note.”

Stoops held similar meetings with safety Tony Jefferson and linebacker Tom Wort, each of whom also decided to forgo his senior season of college football to pursue NFL glory.

Fullback Trey Millard considered the same path, but ultimately chose one more college season. Cornerback Aaron Colvin remains the last underclassman Stoops expects to hear from — either way — regarding the 2013 NFL Draft; Colvin has until Monday to make a decision.

“To me in a lot of cases it's foolish,” Stoops said Friday of underclassmen who leave early. “You never get your value. You give up your education. You give up the opportunity to finish your senior year and to play ball. Some of them will never play ball again because they won't get drafted.”

Stills caught 82 passes for 959 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior, and finished his college career with 204 career catches; he's only the fourth player in Oklahoma history with at least 200 career receptions.

Word of his decision to declare for the NFL Draft began leaking out Saturday, one day after the Sooners' 41-13 Cotton Bowl loss to Texas A&M.

“My family was kinda dealing with the process for me, and they thought it was the best decision for me to make,” Stills said. “I trust what my mom and my dad have to say, and they truly thought it was the best decision for me.”