Georgia quarterback Eric Zeier will delay his pro debut a year to continue his assault on the Southeastern Conference record book.
Zeier "can set some records in our conference that will be a long time being broken, if ever," said Georgia coach Ray Goff.Zeier, who holds 61 Georgia passing records and eight SEC marks, said Monday he will pass up the NFL draft next year.
He will use his senior year to strengthen his arm and improve his skills.
"The only way I would have considered going pro would be if I were convinced I would be a first- or second-round draft choice," Zeier said. "The consensus of opinion was that I would have gone in the third or fourth round."
As a junior this year, Zeier set an SEC record for yards passing (3,525) in a season as he guided the Bulldogs to a disappointing 5-6 record. His performance was instrumental in overcoming a disastrous 0-4 start in the SEC.
Zeier is only 1,530 yards short of the SEC record for career passing yards. He holds SEC records for passing yards in a game, 544, and season, 3,525; total offense in a season, 3,482; total offense per game, 316.5, and completion percentage with a minimum 200 completions, 63.3 percent.