[vincesanity82]

The Daily Athenaeum is reporting that West Virginia junior running back Steve Slaton has decided to return to school for his senior year, rather than enter the 2008 NFL draft.

Although I'm a Slaton fan and enjoy watching him in the West Virginia spread offense, for the future of his football career, that strikes me as the wrong decision. The biggest problem Slaton faces is that with freshman sensation Noel Devine on the team, he may have a hard time earning the starting job in 2008. If he spends most of his senior year on the sidelines, he's not going to do anything to help his draft stock.

2008 NFL Draft Bad Decision: Steve Slaton Returning to West Virginia for Senior Year - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog

[Lefty Noob]

As much as I love to have him back, I have to agree that this is the wrong decision. He was a forgotton man for much of the second half of the season as White and Devine got most of the attention, and there's not a thing he can do to raise his draft status. So, yeah, as a fan it's great to see him coming back, but it's the wrong thing for him, personally, to do.

[JRMtwo]

Maybe Steve knows what he is doing. The new coaching staff may make use of Steve in a new way. I remember great teams, like the Steelers in the late '60s and early '70s using two great running backs to win, win, win. Defending a trio of super fast WVU backs on the field at the same time might make some teams crosseyed.

Here hoping Steve has a great year with the WVU program.

[bears9]

Slaton made the right move, he had a bad second half of the season and I would probably be a 3rd or 4th round pick. This way he gets a chance to improve his stock.

[shortsleeve47]

I didn't know this. Everyone in the Big East was hoping White and Slaton would be gone to NFL early(I say it out of respect to their abilities). It just ended up a slew of quality running backs are going to the Draft this year.

Perhaps Slaton can build on his weights in leg strength to not go down so fast when hit. If picked in 3rd or 4th round is a big pay cut from 1st round, so that had to play big in his decision.

If Slaton can demonstrate some great plays and run through tacklers with his talented speed, he still may get drafted higher with added abilities in college.

Jamal Charles of Texas might be a case to look at with his take charge running in 3rd and 4th quarter to pull Texas out of several would be losses last year.

[Lefty Noob]

Well, as much as I'd love to actually have him back, he changed his mind - Slaton going pro