近距离内射合集

This usually wouldn鈥檛 have been much of a decision for Jaxton Eck.

Under previous rules, New Mexico鈥檚 fourth-year linebacker would have exhausted his eligibility this season and entered his name in next year鈥檚 NFL Draft, one of the few opportunities left for a player of that caliber, in that spot.

Instead, the NCAA gave him another one.

In June, the organization approved a landmark age-based eligibility policy allowing athletes five years to play five seasons, starting with the date of their full-time enrollment or the season after their 19th birthday 鈥� whichever comes first.

A departure from the previous model granting four seasons of eligibility in five years, the change effectively does away with redshirts and waivers while giving eligible players like Eck another year of eligibility 鈥� if he wants it.

By all indications, he does.

Eck said last week he plans on using his fifth year of eligibility after this season, quelling any speculation he might take a shot at the NFL after what was once supposed to be his final year in college.

The Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year admitted he鈥檚 dreamed of playing in the NFL since he was a kid, but remains focused on the season ahead. Eck added he was glad the NCAA implemented the change when they did 鈥� well before the season 鈥� so he could get a feel for his options sooner rather than later.

鈥淲ith it up in the air, it鈥檚 like, 鈥榳ell, I kind of would like to take a fifth year, but I don鈥檛 know for sure,鈥欌�� he said last Wednesday at Mountain West Media Days. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e kind of unsure if this is your last year or not. So I鈥檓 glad that it went through. I plan on playing a fifth year.鈥�

And while it always made sense for Eck to come back for a fifth year, that plan has his father鈥檚 support, too.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think Jaxton鈥檚 going to be a first-round pick,鈥� Jason Eck said last Thursday at Mountain West Media Days. 鈥淎nd I really think anybody, if you鈥檙e not a first-round pick, should use the (extra) year for development.鈥�

In that vein, UNM鈥檚 second-year head coach pointed to the lack of opportunities for players like Eck to develop within the NFL structure. Extended training camps and developmental leagues like NFL Europe have all gone by the wayside, leaving athletes with college as their best chance to develop before making the jump up.

The senior Eck also mentioned that the current (and perhaps, future) conditions for players of a lower draft slot could help make staying in college more attractive down the line.

鈥淎ll those (team) reps in the (NFL Players Association) are, you know, 10-year NFL vets, 15-year guys,鈥� he claimed. 鈥淪o as they adjust those rules, they make those rules better for the 10- to 15-year vets, you know, not for a seventh-round pick or a free agent who鈥檚 trying to make the roster.

鈥淚n general, players want to develop in college and get as good as they can in college before they go, the exception being a first-round pick. So I expect Jaxton to play another year of college football.鈥�

A 6-foot-1, 228-pound linebacker, Eck made 128 total tackles last season with the Lobos en route to Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. He previously played three years at Idaho, where he blossomed into one of the Big Sky鈥檚 best defensive players after receiving no FBS interest as a high school recruit.

The idea that Eck could now be receiving NFL interest? It鈥檚 still a little surreal for him.

鈥淕oing into college, I honestly wouldn鈥檛 say that was my focus,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was just trying to make a name for myself and prove that I wasn鈥檛 just the coach鈥檚 kid. But it鈥檚 cool to get some of that recognition 鈥� you know, as a kid you dream of getting to play in the NFL.

鈥淚t鈥檚 insane. I鈥檓 super grateful and blessed for that. But I鈥檓 really just focused on this year.鈥�

Sean Reider covers college football and other sports for the Journal. You can reach him at sreider@abqjournal.com or via X at .