Underclassmen Who Are Entering the NFL Draft

cloverleaf · Jan 14, 2015

Thirty five underclassmen have announced they will enter this year's NFL Draft. Last year there were 94 underclassmen who came out early. Small problem...34 or 35 of them were not even drafted. Looks like many wanting to enter early learned a lesson because the number is way down this year.

Here's this year's list...might be a couple that I missed.

Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise State
Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn
Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana
Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina
Mario Edwards, DE, Florida State
Durell Eskridge, S, Syracuse
Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Devin Funchess, WR, Michigan
Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma
Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska
Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Eli Harold, DE, Virginia
Chris Harper, WR, California
Duke Johnson, RB, Miami
Nigel King, WR, Kansas
Tyler, TE, Rutgers
Benardrick McKinney, LB, Miss State
Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
Bradley Pinion, P, Clemson
Josh Robinson, RB, Miss State
Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State
Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
Max Valles, LB, Virginia
Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
Leonard Williams, DL, Southern Cal
Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
P.J. Williams, CB, Florida State
Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama

Looking at the list, its obvious some of these guys got bad advice. Unless a player is a first rounder (specifically top 10 pick) many believe it is better (because of the drop off in money) to stay in college to increase their status for the next draft.

Using Alabama as an example. Receiver Amari Cooper and safety Landon Collins will be top 10 picks in the first round. Running Back T.J. Yeldon probably won't be drafted in the first round after just an average year. Another year at Bama may have increased his stock for next year.

I sure a lot of these guys come out for various reasons...but there will be some regrets come draft day.

What do you think.............?

rolltide · Jan 14, 2015

at this point I don't think any RB comes out truly expecting to be drafted early....just doesn't happen much and certainly not after the Trent Richardson disaster. Yeldon will be top 5 RB picked likely 2nd or 3rd round which is certainly reason to leave, IMO. he's got a lot more tread on his tires than some of those other guys as he's split carriers throughout college and never had to be a 30-carry back.

cooper will be a great pro and top 10 pick for sure but i have concerns about Collins. Great hitter, good leader as far as getting defense lined up, but quite poor in pass defense. I can count on one hand the number of times he got over to break up a long ball....just doesn't read the pass game well which is a killer for NFL safeties. He is certainly the most talented safety available though and probably more athletic and a bigger hitter than any of his predecessors (ha ha, barron, etc) but his pass defense leaves something to be desired.

had no idea green-beckham was even eligible for the draft....

GoSooners · Jan 14, 2015

I haven't heard anything about Beckham signing with an agent or turning pro. There's nothing on twitter about. Although I do expect him to declare today. I'm just not sure why he's waiting until the last minute to do it...

Wanger · Jan 14, 2015

Arik Armstead DL Oregon

With Armstead leaving it's very likely DeForest Buckner will leave early also.

packer2012 · Jan 14, 2015

Time for some hair brain to come in the thread and say something like...... "Well whatever amount of money... for whatever round..... is more than you get compensated in the NCAA. Even though the players are the ones performing and creating the entertainment."

Won't ever see it happen....but would be interesting to state the rule like this..... If you want to be part of any NCAA program..... then you are by definition a STUDENT/ATHLETE. So...... respect and be thankful for your school being paid for. If you don't like that...... go ahead into the NFL and get your ass kicked and get crippled...... at least you will be doing so knowing you can get a few almighty dollars.

tmader7 · Jan 14, 2015

Packer, I hear ya loud and clear, I was recently reminded a year at Vandy now goes for around 60K...yeah, peanuts compared to an NFL contract, but that sheepskin opened so many damn doors down the road. I do understand the lifespan of a football player, especially at RB, which is why the NFL draft process has downgraded drafting RB's the way they have. And the sad side of reality is, most of these guys will be broke and flipping burgers before they even turn 30....hell, Icky Woods is slamming "coldcuts" on a grocery store floor for Geico, LOL.

~T~

packer2012 · Jan 14, 2015

Hear you T. But (I feel sure you are no longer a teenager... So you know what I am saying) At some point "back in the day" more players valued the education and really intended to make their grades and show respect for the school. Lots less of that now.

Used to be guys who were athletes had more value to a company (even as a PR person) after school or professional sports careers. Now I suspect many can't put a sentence together or represent in any reasonable fashion.

packer2012 · Jan 14, 2015

Most of us saw the behavior by the Ohio State football players in the post game. I feel sure that coaches at the big programs have to just develop a thick skin for athlete behavior.

Seems Urban would soooo want to punch those kids in the neck and teach them some social skills. But.... that is not the priority. Have to use every ounce of the kid's concentration to teach him what he needs to do on the football field. Just have to look the other way when he is embarrassing everyone associated with his family, his community, his university, and really the whole country.

tmader7 · Jan 14, 2015

packer2012 said:
Hear you T. But (I feel sure you are no longer a teenager... So you know what I am saying) At some point "back in the day" more players valued the education and really intended to make their grades and show respect for the school. Lots less of that now.

Used to be guys who were athletes had more value to a company (even as a PR person) after school or professional sports careers. Now I suspect many can't put a sentence together or represent in any reasonable fashion.

My favorite chef is Emeril Lagasse and if you ever watched him on TV, his favorite expression was ....BAM! Which I now use in response to your post. Nailed it on the head my friend. AND NO, I'm not a teenager any more, although conversing with some of the idiots on this forum tends to bring the teenager out sometimes, LOL. I've got a son that graduated OU, so by definition, I'm an oldtimer.

~T~

Albatross · Jan 14, 2015

If Gurley can stay healthy he will be a stud in the pros. Loves the underdog prove me wrong attitude and once he gets the limelight he stays. Gots the size and speed.

Albatross · Jan 14, 2015

Love Duke Johnson as well. Think we may see a run on RBs in the near future. Still a key in winning in the NFL.

tmader7 · Jan 14, 2015

Albatross said:
If Gurley can stay healthy he will be a stud in the pros. Loves the underdog prove me wrong attitude and once he gets the limelight he stays. Gots the size and speed.

Here's the deal. Look what has happened to Lattimore. And then there was Blount, who I give a little credit to, but his knee recovery far outdid his brain growth. I have no idea what Todd's damage is, but been there, done that. Obviously I wasn't pro material, I post here at the RX, but let me tell you something, everytime he gets hit again, it's gonna hurt, you don't believe that, give Dr. Lewis Drez down in Lake Charles a call, he's the one that rebuilt mine and God knows how many Saints players. Knee injury is THE worst, PERIOD!!!

~T~

Wanger · Jan 15, 2015

Wanger said:
Arik Armstead DL Oregon

With Armstead leaving it's very likely DeForest Buckner will leave early also.

Buckner has decided to stay and not turn pro.

cloverleaf · Jan 15, 2015

tmader7 said:
Here's the deal. Look what has happened to Lattimore. And then there was Blount, who I give a little credit to, but his knee recovery far outdid his brain growth. I have no idea what Todd's damage is, but been there, done that. Obviously I wasn't pro material, I post here at the RX, but let me tell you something, everytime he gets hit again, it's gonna hurt, you don't believe that, give Dr. Lewis Drez down in Lake Charles a call, he's the one that rebuilt mine and God knows how many Saints players. Knee injury is THE worst, PERIOD!!!

~T~

Gale Sayers (Chicago Bears) was one of my all time favorite players and I loved to watch him play. He could cut on a dime and made moves most running backs just dreamed of. After his knee injury...he went from being unbelievable to just average. Keep in mind back then knee surgeries were not on par with what a doctor can do now. Still, a serious wheel injury for a RB is some serious stuff.

Georgia's Gurley has the size, speed, toughness and attitude the pros love. Another hit on that knee could take all that away. Remember South Carolina's Lattimore had back to back knee injuries. Never thought he could be productive in the NFL.

rolltide · Jan 15, 2015

Below, you can see a list of the 75 underclassmen that declared for the 2015 NFL Draft.
SEC underclassmen that have declared for NFL draft (21):
Florida
Dante Fowler Jr., defensive end
D.J. Humphries, offensive tackle
Matt Jones, running back
Tyler Moore, offensive lineman
Alabama
Landon Collins, safety
Amari Cooper, wide receiver
T.J. Yeldon, running back
LSU
Kwon Alexander, linebacker
Jalen Collins, cornerback
Danielle Hunter, defensive end
Mississippi State
Benardrick McKinney, linebacker
Josh Robinson, running back
Auburn
Sammie Coates, wide receiver
Patrick Miller, offensive lineman
South Carolina
Mike Davis, running back
Shaq Roland, wide receiver
Arkansas
Darius Philon, defensive tackle
Missouri
Shane Ray, defensive end
Texas A&M
Trey Williams, running back
Georgia
Todd Gurley, running back
Kentucky
Braylon Heard, running back
Other underclassmen that declared for the draft (54):
Florida State
Ronald Darby, cornerback
Mario Edwards Jr., defensive end
Eddie Goldman, defensive tackle
P.J. Williams, cornerback
Jameis Winston, quarterback
USC
Nelson Agholor, wide receiver
Javorius Buck Allen, running back
George Farmer, wide receiver
Leonard Williams, defensive lineman
Penn State
Deion Barnes, defensive end
Jesse James, tight end
Donovan Smith, offensive tackle
Oregon
Arik Armstead, defensive lineman
Marcus Mariota, quarterback
Stanford
Alex Carter, cornerback
Andrus Peat, offensive tackle
Miami
Ereck Flowers, offensive tackle
Duke Johnson, running back
UCF
Jacoby Glenn, cornerback
Breshad Perriman, wide receiver
Oklahoma
Dorial Green-Beckham, wide receiver
Jordan Phillips, defensive tackle
Virginia
Eli Harold, defensive end
Max Valles, defensive end
Louisville
Gerod Holliman, safety
James Sample, safety
UCLA
Brett Hundley, quarterback
Ellis McCarthy, defensive lineman
Washington
Marcus Peters, cornerback
Shaq Thompson, linebacker
Boise State
Jay Ajayi, running back
Texas
Malcom Brown, defensive tackle
Indiana
Tevin Coleman, running back
Washington State
Xavier Cooper, defensive tackle
Rice
Christian Covington, defensive tackle
Maryland
Stefon Diggs, wide receiver
Tulane
Lorenzo Doss, cornerback
Syracuse
Durell Eskridge, safety
Michigan
Devin Funchess, wide receiver/tight end
Wisconsin
Melvin Gordon, running back
Houston
Deontay Greenberry, wide receiver
Nebraska
Randy Gregory, defensive end
TCU
Chris Hackett, safety
California
Chris Harper, wide receiver
Colorado State
Dee Hart, running back
Kansas
Nigel King, wide receiver
Rutgers
Tyler Kroft, tight end
Clemson
Bradley Pinion, punter
Utah
Jeremiah Poutasi, offensive tackle
Ohio State
Noah Spence, defensive end
UMass
Jean Sifrin, tight end
Arizona State
Jaelen Strong, wide receiver
Michigan State
Trae Waynes, cornerback
Minnesota
Maxx Williams, tight end

GoSooners · Jan 15, 2015

Now that Beckham is officially gone even though he never officially announced it except to Bob Stoops, I wonder what school he will say he's from in the NFL when he's introduced in the starting lineups. The school that kicked him out or the school that gave him a second chance that you never took?

cloverleaf · Jan 15, 2015

Thanks for the updated list RT........

Beckham wasted what should have been a good college experience.

Can you say "Dumbass".....

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