Louisiana Tech’s two-time All-Conference USA defensive end Jaylon Ferguson has a lot on his mind these days.
At the fore of Ferguson’s thought process is the Bulldogs' matchup at 7 p.m. Wednesday against SMU (7-5) in the DXL Frisco Bowl on ESPN.
“We’re not taking it for granted,” said Ferguson, a former West Feliciana standout. “Not many teams in our conference (Conference USA) can say they’ve been in four straight bowl games.”
Soon after the game ends, Ferguson will continue gathering information on his potential NFL draft status, possibly making the bowl game his last for the Bulldogs (6-6).
Ferguson, a redshirt junior, said he’s already started the process of requesting an evaluation grade from the NFL’s Draft Advisory Committee which he’s hopeful of receiving after the New Year’s six bowls are complete.
The committee, comprised of personnel evaluators from NFL teams, can return one of three grades: first round, second round or remain in school.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Ferguson hinted at already nearing a decision.
“I have something in mind and will let everybody know,” he said. “I’m waiting on the evaluation to come back.”
The deadline for draft-eligible juniors to declare is Jan. 15.
Ferguson, regarded as one of the nation’s top pass rushers, is projected as high as a second-round selection by draftsite.com.
“I feel like I’ve set myself up pretty good,” Ferguson said. “I can either take a step into the league or come back.”
Ferguson believes he’s armed with enough incentive to pull off the latter.
Not only can Ferguson return with the promise of leading Louisiana Tech to a fifth consecutive bowl game, but he can continue his assault on the school’s career sack record held by Walter Johnson (38).
Ferguson, who holds the school’s single-season mark of 14½, became No. 2 on the schools’ career sacks list — surpassing Baton Rouge native Matt Broha — with 26½ and also has visions of the NCAA’s all-time sack leader Ja’Von Rolland-James of Arkansas State (42).
“That can be motivation for coming back,” he said. “I’ll have to make my decision soon because we start training (for next season) in January.”
Ferguson saw a dip in his overall numbers this season, having started in 10 of 11 games, with teams showing a reluctance to challenge his side of the line, resulting in 38 tackles with 8½ behind the line.
He matched his first-year sack total of six with opposing teams content to roll quarterbacks to the opposite side or have maximum protection to help on passing plays.
“I realized it was going to happen,” Ferguson said. “I knew if they focused more on me, we’ve still got 10 other people on the defense that could make a play.
“Even though the play’s away from me, I don’t stop,” Ferguson said. “I’m going to run as hard as I can to fight. It pays off. I’ll try and run it down. I will not give up on any plays.”
More than football, or the lure of the NFL draft, Ferguson considers his biggest personal accomplishment to still be five months away: his degree in General Studies.
It’s an opportunity, he believes, to defy the odds and be a shining light for his hometown of St. Francisville.
“Not too many people come from my hometown, play college football and graduate,” Ferguson said. “I love football but everything comes to an end and when it does, you need something to fall back on. Education’s forever. Once I get that degree no matter what, that can’t take from me.”