According to multiple published reports, Washington quarterback Jake Locker has applied for an assessment from the NFL Draft Advisory Board.

In part because of that, Locker's coach Steve Sarkisian met with reporters today. Among other things, he told them he was "very optimistic" that Locker would return for his senior season.

"Jake is a very heady young man," Sarkisian said. "He's not someone who is just going to jump to a decision or make a decision based on emotion and he's proven that from high school when he had an opportunity to play Major League baseball to last year when he got drafted by the Angels and the process with signing that contract to making this decision now.

"He's going to do his due diligence. He's going to make a decision based on facts and proper information, not on emotion. I don't think it is going to come down to the midnight hour."

Underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to officially declare for the draft with the NFL. The overwhelming opinion on Locker is that he would be considered a top 10 pick. He would likely be competing with fellow juniors Jimmy Clausen and Sam Bradford as the first quarterback selected.

On the year, Locker finished with 2,800 yards passing for 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He completed 58.2 percent of his passes. He also ran for 388 yards and seven touchdowns.

Arkansas redshirt sophomore Ryan Mallett dismissed talk about entering the draft. He told the Arkansas News, though, that he'll consider his options after the Liberty Bowl.

"We’re still in the season," Mallett said. "So nothing like that is going through my mind right now. The only thing going through my mind right now is the Liberty Bowl and going out there to win the game. We’re still in the season so stuff that’s after-season decisions. That doesn’t affect me at all during the season.