Osweiler annouces decision to enter NFL draft

Here is a statement from Brock Osweiler on his decision and his time at ASU:

“Winter Break was an important time for me and after much deliberation, I came to an important decision. In a lot of ways it was similar to my last year in high school. In high school, I was heavily recruited and visited a few of the top programs in the country. Of all of the recruitment trips, it was ASU that struck a lasting cord. Every person I encountered was so kind and it made my decision at the time more difficult to make. As a young man, I had some serious decisions to make, not even 18 years old and I had to make a choice that would ultimately impact my life forever.

As many of you know, before I chose to live in Arizona, I had a commitment to Gonzaga University to play basketball. For a over a year I was certain that this was my path, it wasn’t until May 16th of 2008 that I was certain I had to be ASU’s quarterback. My coach at the time, McCarvel stood by my decision and I graduated a semester early from my class. By January 2009 I was officially a Sun Devil.

ASU has taken excellent care of me and the city of Tempe has changed my life for the better. Not a single day has gone by where I have had to second guess or question my decision to enroll at ASU. I knew that in my heart this was part of my destiny. While I bleed and sweat Maroon and Gold I have now made the second-most difficult decision in my life. I have decided to declare myself eligible for the NFL draft. It was an exceptionally difficult decision to make, but having spoken to my family and close friends it became clear to me that this is the next path I must take to advance my personal and professional career.

I wish I could truly thank everyone that has helped me through my years at ASU, but there isn’t a proper way to match what everyone has done for me. I have been touched by the most amazing people and have made relationships I know will last my entire life. When I arrived in Arizona I was spellbound and culture shocked by Kush stadium. Seventy-two-thousand people could fit in the stadium which is 40,000 more people then the entirety of my hometown of Kalispell, Montana.

ASU has been my home for the last three years. I will never forget how many people have gone out of their way to make ASU home for me. I would like to thank the fans that have supported me through out all of the trials and tribulations. Sincerely, there is nothing like walking onto Kush Field before kick off and having the crowd erupt. There are so many things that I will miss about ASU, but I know that I will be a Sun Devil until I die. I have a pitchfork tattoo on my ribs to symbolize the BEST three years of my life. Thank you again for all of the support and positive wishes throughout this process.

Go Devils!”

Here is the official release from Arizona State University:

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona State University quarterback Brock Osweiler, after conferring with family and newly hired head coach Todd Graham, has decided to leave ASU and enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

Osweiler rewrote the Arizona State record book for passing in his first season as the starter, becoming the first quarterback in the history of Sun Devil football to throw for more than 4,000 yards, finishing the season with 4,036. He also set new school records for completions (326), attempts (516) and completion percentage (63.2), and threw for 26 touchdowns, the fourth most in school history.

The tallest quarterback in the nation last year at 6 feet 8 inches, Osweiler has played in 25 career games, including 15 as the starter, and has thrown for 5,082 yards and 33 touchdowns in his three-year ASU career. He’s also added four rushing touchdowns.

Six of Osweiler’s seven career 300-yard passing games came during the 2011 season and he topped the 350-yard mark four times. He threw for a career-high 487 yards against Arizona, tying a school record with his 63 pass attempts, and amassed 395 passing yards in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas. He’s thrown for three or more touchdowns four times, three of which came last season, including in wins over then-No. 21 Missouri and on the road against Utah.

Trailing UCLA 17-0 on Nov. 26, 2010, Osweiler replaced starter Steven Threet, who left the game with an injury in the first quarter, and promptly drove the Sun Devils down the field for three straight touchdowns. He finished the game with 380 passing yards and a career-best four touchdowns to lead ASU to a 55-34 victory over the Bruins. The following week, making his first start of the 2010 season, he was named MVP of the 2010 State Farm Territorial Cup game after passing for 267 yards and a touchdown to help the Sun Devils to a 30-29 (OT) win over Arizona in Tucson.

Osweiler, who is from Kalispell, Mont., became the first Sun Devil true freshman to start a game at quarterback since Jake Plummer in 1993 when he was named the starter prior to the Sun Devils’ contest at No. 14 Oregon on Nov. 14, 2009.

Osweiler has elected not to conduct a press conference at this time.

Statement from ASU Head Football Coach Todd Graham: 

“I wish Brock Osweiler nothing but the best in his pursuit of a future in the National Football League.  That is the goal of every college football player who buckles up a chin strap.  I met with Brock on several occasions and we discussed his future at length.  Brock is doing what he believes is best for him and his family and we respect that.  He will always have an open door to come back to at Arizona State University.  Once a Sun Devil, always a Sun Devil!”