University of Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder will return to school for his senior season.
Ridder, who earned his degree in sports administration in December, announced on Twitter Friday that he will not enter the 2021 NFL Draft.
"Despite the obstacles and the ups and downs, this past season turned into everything we dreamed of," he said. "But there is still unfinished business. I'll be back in the red and black for my final season."
The 2020 American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year led the Bearcats to an undefeated regular season, the AAC title and a Peach Bowl bid.
Ridder will be the winningest quarterback in college football in 2021. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Louisville St. Xavier product is 30-5 as a starter.
More:How the Cincinnati Bearcats' Desmond Ridder fell in love with being a quarterback
Ridder was a first-team All-AAC selection this season, the AAC championship game Most Outstanding Player and one of 12 finalists for the Manning Award. The winner of the award will be announced following the outcome of Monday's College Football Playoff national championship game.
Ridder completed 24 of 37 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 loss against Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
"It's been a wild week we've had," he said following the game. "Not a normal bowl experience where we come down for a week. Instead we practiced at home till Wednesday and flew out here and had almost like a two-day business trip. We've been ready to play this game for a long time. It's just, you know, disappointing, obviously, the way it ended."
Ridder passed for 2,296 yards and 19 touchdowns against six interceptions, while rushing for 592 yards and 12 more scores, the most rushing touchdowns by an FBS quarterback this season.
Ridder's 22 career rushing touchdowns are the most ever for a Cincinnati quarterback and eighth most in program history. UC quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli owns about every quarterback record at the school. Guidugli played for the Bearcats from 2001-04.
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The Bearcats were No. 8 in the College Football Playoff selection committee's final rankings. Ridder, who was the 2018 AAC Rookie of the Year, told Guidugli he wants to break all of his records next season and win a second consecutive conference championship, according to Ridder's post on Friday.
"Gunna have no reason not to put us in the playoffs," Ridder said in a text message to Guidugli.
More:UC QB Ridder enjoys success as 'He's just letting the game come to him'
Cincinnati senior linebacker Joel Dublanko announced Thursday he will return to UC for another season. Dublanko joins linebacker Darrian Beavers, cornerback Coby Bryant and wide receiver Jordan Jones as seniors using the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Underclssmen have a mid-January deadline to file draft declaration papers with the league. The draft is scheduled to be held in Cleveland from April 29-May 1.
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