Kent State’s Dri Archer to return for senior season

Senior runningback Dri Archer walks off the field after Kents 17-13 loss to Arkansas State on Jan. 6, 2013.. Photo by Matt Hafley.

Matt Hafley

Senior runningback Dri Archer walks off the field after Kent’s 17-13 loss to Arkansas State on Jan. 6, 2013.. Photo by Matt Hafley.

Tim Dorst

Junior running back Dri Archer announced Friday that he will opt to remain at Kent State to play his senior season with the Flashes in 2013.

Archer made the announcement via Twitter Friday afternoon, nearly a week after the Flashes’ 17-13 loss to Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Reports surfaced in the days following the game that Archer had considered forgoing his senior year to enter the NFL Draft in April.

Archer rushed for 1,429 yards for the Flashes in the 2012 season, the third highest single-season total in team history, and his 22 total touchdowns set a Kent State single-season record. Archer was named Mid-American Conference Special Teams Player of the Year after recording three kickoff return touchdowns this season and averaging 36.9 yards per return.

New head football coach Paul Haynes stated earlier in the week that he would pitch Archer as a Heisman Trophy candidate next season if he decided to return to the team.

Contact Tim Dorst at [email protected].