LB Mark Herzlich to return to BC for senior year

NEWTON, Mass. -- Linebacker Mark Herzlich, the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year, will return to Boston College for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft.

Herzlich said in a statement Friday that he wanted to complete his college education and his college experience.

As a junior, Herzlich led the Eagles with 81 solo tackles and was one of only two linebackers in the country with six interceptions. He returned two of those pickoffs for touchdowns.

Herzlich finished fifth in the voting for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top college linebacker.

The announcement comes two days after Boston College fired head coach Jeff Jagodzinski for interviewing with the New York Jets.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)