University of Notre Dame junior wide receiver Michael Floyd is returning for his senior season.
The 6-3, 227-pounder enters his final year at Notre Dame with the most touchdown receptions, second-most receptions and third-most receiving yards for a career in Irish history.
2010 was Floyd’s best statistical season as he led the Irish with 79 receptions for 1,025 yards and 12 TDs. Only one Notre Dame player ever caught more passes in a season than Floyd in 2010 (Golden Tate, 93 in 2009) while Floyd’s TD reception total tied for fourth in Irish history, while his receiving yards ranked seventh in a season by a Notre Dame player.
Floyd started a career-high 12 games in 2010.
“This was one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make in my life, Floyd said. “On the one hand, there was Notre Dame. This place has been an incredible home to me and the relationships I built here are ones I know
I’ll have for the rest of my life. On the other hand, there was the NFL. It has always been a lifelong goal to play football at the highest level and that is something I look forward to doing at some point.”
“I’m returning to Notre Dame for three reasons: to earn my degree, return Notre Dame to the top and improve myself as a player. First, I promised my mom I would graduate from Notre Dame and I am 40 credit hours shy of
attaining that goal. I chose to attend Notre Dame in part because I knew it was a 40-year decision and not a four-year decision. Graduating from Notre Dame will help me for the rest of my life. Second, I want to get Notre Dame back to a BCS game. I believe we are very close to returning the Irish to where we belong and I want to be part of something great.
Lastly, I want to show everyone in the country that I’m the best wide receiver in college football in 2011. There are many things I need to improve, but I feel with the coaching I have at Notre Dame, I can become the best at my position in this game.”
Floyd has tallied 171 career catches for 2,539 yards with 28 touchdowns and started 29 of the 30 games he played for the Irish. Only Jeff Samardzija (179) has recorded more receptions than Floyd and only Golden Tate (2,707)
and Samardzija (2,593) have totaled more career receiving yards than Floyd.
He has registered 13 games in his career with at least 100 receiving yards (tied for second with Tom Gatewood; Golden Tate had 15) and Floyd’s 84.6 receiving yards per game is the best career average of any Notre Dame
player.