Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew could have turned pro last season. He thought about it.

Instead, he decided to go back to school for his senior season. Now, Pettigrew is three hours from his education degree and a few days from being a first-round draft choice.

"I figured I couldn't ruin anything by coming back," said Pettigrew, who will join Reuben Gant (1974, Buffalo) as the only OSU tight ends selected in the first round. "Another year of getting better is how I looked at it."

It wasn't how Pettigrew envisioned his last season. He missed three games with an ankle sprain, scored no touchdowns and didn't make first- or second-team All-Big 12.

"Once you make a decision, you've got to stick with it," Pettigrew said. "You can't look back in regret. The ankle happened. Nothing I could do about it.

"I gained more experience, got to play against more different guys, got to work on more technique and got a little bit stronger."

Pettigrew, who is 6-foot-6, 263 pounds, is the most complete tight end in the draft. He made 112 catches for 1,450 yards and nine touchdowns, and averaged more than 54 knockdown blocks per season.

"I think he can do both," Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "I think he's savvy. He's not real fast, but he's just a huge human being."