STATE COLLEGE — Penn State tailback Evan Royster will stay in school for his senior season, bypassing a chance to enter the NFL draft.

The two-year starter said Wednesday in a statement through the athletic department that he wanted to finish his degree in management information systems. Royster is 481 yards shy of breaking Curt Warner's school record of 3,398 career rushing yards.

Royster started all 13 games in 2009 for No. 11 Penn State (11-2) and finished second in the Big Ten with 1,169 rushing yards along with six touchdowns on 205 carries. A shifty runner known for his vision and footwork, Royster also played a bigger role in the passing game with 16 catches for 187 yards and two scores.

His return to school is a mild surprise. Royster had sought input from the NFL's draft advisory board, but decided to stay for his senior year without learning of his evaluation, team spokesman Jeff Nelson said Wednesday night.

The Nittany Lions had questions behind Royster at running back. Among the backups, Stephfon Green has been hampered by ankle injuries and Brandon Beachum suffered a season-ending right knee injury in November.

Another junior, Navorro Bowman, decided this week to skip his senior year to enter the draft. In a brief statement Wednesday, the standout linebacker said he was proud to have earned his degree and to have contributed to the team's recent success.

Also, senior defensive end Jerome Hayes will not petition the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility to instead pursue a pro career.

One of the nation's most highly recruited linebackers out of high school, Hayes had his career derailed by numerous injuries including season-ending injuries to each knee. But he stayed healthy in 2009 and finished with 18 tackles and a sack.