Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas is returning for his senior season.

The 6-foot-6 junior told the coaching staff on Tuesday, the final day to declare for the draft.

Thomas had said before the Hokies left Blacksburg, Va., for the Russell Athletic Bowl that his decision would be ``up in the air'' even if the NFL draft advisory board suggested he could be a first-round draft choice. He said he didn't think he was consistent enough to be a winning NFL quarterback, and that ``I love the university, I love the people here, all my friends are still here, and ... I think I need some work to do.''

He says the NFL remains his goal ``while college is only a five-year experience that you can't get back.''