Star Oregon cornerback Deommodore Lenoir opting back into 2020 season

Deommodore Lenoir is returning for one last year at Oregon.

The Pac-12 has confirmed that a football season is around the corner, but many of the best future NFL prospects have opted out in pursuit of the NFL. Oregon lost quite a few players to the draft, but they just some incredibly good news when cornerback Deommodore Lenoir chose to put off the NFL for a few months and rejoin the Ducks.

Lenoir confirmed himself on Twitter that he has decided to return to Eugene for one more season after hearing of the Pac-12’s plan to play a shortened season. Considering how tight the Pac-12 is at the top this year, getting Lenoir back is a major boost for Oregon.

Deommodore Lenoir will make a very good NFL cornerback given his feistiness

Lenoir has started for the last two seasons, recording 98 seasons and 2.5 sacks to go along with four interceptions. He will not become the featured member of the Ducks’ secondary, as potential first-round pick Jevon Holland made the jump to the NFL along with probable top-five pick Penei Sewell. Despite those losses, Mario Cristobal should have one of the conference’s best defenses once again.

While Lenoir was targeted a team-high 74 times last year, he only allowed a completion on 54 percent of those throws. At 200 pounds with 4.4 speed in addition to that stickiness, it’s easy to see why Lenoir is going to make some team very happy in the draft next season.

Lenoir’s decision to return for one last dance makes sense, as he’ll get a few more games on tape to attempt to differentiate himself in the eyes of the NFL decision-makers and solidify himself as a Day 2 pick. Not only will he help Oregon in their efforts to repeat as Pac-12 champs, but he could make himself a lot of money in the draft if he shows the same ability to lock down in man coverage he showed in 2019.

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