Jordan Payton confirmed on Saturday that he will return to UCLA as a senior next season, ending talk of him potentially declaring for the NFL draft.
“I’m coming back,” Payton told reporters after practice. “There were reports saying that I was leaving or something, but I’m coming back. Didn’t really even think about leaving, to be honest with you.”
Payton was not projected to be a high draft pick, but ranks seventh in the Pac-12 with 896 receiving yards and 10th with seven touchdown catches. A polished wideout who excels at gaining yards after the catch, the junior is responsible for more than a fifth of the Bruins’ receptions this season.
With the Alamo Bowl left to play on Jan. 2, he has a shot to become UCLA’s first 1,000-yard receiver since Nelson Rosario had 1,161 in 2011.