ADVERTISEMENT

 

This can be a tough time of the year for college football fans. The season is over, there is the angst caused by recruiting and there is the hand-wringing going on over sophomores and juniors who could leave school early.

Last year, 53 underclassmen declared for the NFL draft; 39 were drafted, including four in the top 10. There were 40 players who left early in 2007, 48 in '06, 49 in '05, 43 in '04, 54 in '03, 43 in '02, 54 in '01 and 31 in 2000. The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Jan. 15.

Here's a list of the players who likely are considering leaving school early. We will update the list as decisions are made.

Alabama
RB Glen Coffee: Will enter the draft. His decision comes as somewhat of a surprise. He had a big junior year, rushing for 1,383 yards. But he lacks breakaway speed and seems destined to be a mid-round pick at best.
OT Andre Smith: Will enter the draft. Smith should go among the first 10 picks. While he played left tackle for the Tide, some NFL scouts think he will be best-suited for the right side in the pros.
Arizona
OT Eben Britton: Will enter the draft. He quietly put together one of the best seasons by a tackle in the nation. He's solid across the board, though he doesn't really stand out in any category. He could be a late first-rounder or go early in the second.
Arkansas
TE Andrew Davie: Will enter the draft. Davie, who turned 26 earlier this month, spent four years as a minor league baseball player before walking-on at Arkansas. He caught 24 passes in the past two seasons and is a solid blocker. His age and lack of production mean he will be a second-day pick, if he's selected at all.
Auburn
LB Tray Blackmon: Will enter the draft (sort of). Blackmon, an oft-injured, oft-suspended player, has left school and will play in the CFL. He has a ton of talent, but never has quite put it all together.
DT Sen'Derrick Marks: Will enter the draft. He was solid in his first season inside after playing end, and he's seen as a potential late first-round pick.
CB Jerraud Powers: Will enter the draft. His decision was somewhat of a surprise, because he arguably had a better sophomore season than he did junior year. He likely will be a late-round selection. He's only 5 feet 9 and not a blazer.
Ball State
QB Nate Davis: Will enter the draft. He has had the benefit of learning under offensive coordinator Stan Parrish, a former NFL assistant. But Davis will need to tweak his mechanics, and his arm strength may not meet the approval of every team. Still, he has a lot of upside and looks like a second- or third-round pick.
Boise State
WR Jeremy Childs: Will enter the draft. Childs undoubtedly would've set most Boise State receiving records had he returned for his senior season. While he was productive for the Broncos, he had off-field issues, which likely will drive down his draft stock. He has good size (6-0/195) but he lacks elite speed and seems likely to be a mid-round pick at best.
BYU
WR Austin Collie: Will enter the draft. He was incredibly productive in BYU's high-powered passing attack. He has excellent hands and runs good routes. But he is not a speedster and seems likely to be a mid- to late-round pick.
California
TE Cameron Morrah: Will enter the draft. His departure was a surprise. He's an OK receiver but has a ways to go as a blocker. He seems like a sixth- or seventh-round pick for a team looking for an H-back type – if he's drafted at all.
Connecticut
RB Donald Brown: Will enter the draft. Brown basically was UConn's offense this season. While he lacks elite speed, he's durable and can run inside and outside. He's a likely second- or third-rounder.
Florida
WR Percy Harvin: Will enter the draft. He was perhaps the most dynamic playmaker in the nation, but his injury history likely will cause him to slide down some draft boards. He's a likely first-round pick, but in the lower half of the round.
Florida State
DE Everette Brown: Will enter the draft. Brown was one of the nation's top sack men this season. He has good quickness off the edge and appears extremely likely to get drafted on the first day – and could go in the first round.
Georgia
CB Asher Allen: Will enter the draft. Allen didn't have any interceptions this season, but he was solid in run support as teams generally threw away from him. He's not a blazer. He seems destined to go on the second day of the draft.
RB Knowshon Moreno: Will enter the draft. NFL scouts love his instincts. He can make tacklers miss in space and is tough enough to run between the tackles. He is a draft-eligible sophomore.
QB Matthew Stafford: Will enter the draft. He never quite put up the numbers expected, but NFL scouts still love the guy. He has prototypical size (6-3/230) with a big arm, and he can make all the throws. He'll be the first or second quarterback taken.
Illinois
CB Vontae Davis: Will enter the draft. He might have the best physical attributes of any corner in the draft and as such, he is expected to be a first-rounder. He is the brother of San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis.
Indiana
WR Andrew Means: Will enter the draft. Means is a better baseball prospect than he is football prospect. It's extremely unlikely that Means gets picked in the NFL draft.
Iowa
RB Shonn Greene: Will enter the draft. He emerged from nowhere to become one of the nation's best running backs. He's not a speed merchant, but he's a tough back who can take the pounding between the tackles. He's a likely second-round pick.
Kansas State
QB Josh Freeman: Will enter the draft. He has a ton of skills and great size, but he's raw and has a ways to go to be an NFL quarterback. He probably will be an early pick on the second day of the draft.
LSU
DL Ricky Jean-Francois: Will enter the draft. He didn't have the season expected of him, but he's athletic and will test well in his workouts. He could go anywhere from the first to the third round.
Maryland
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: Will enter the draft. He never put up big numbers at Maryland, but that's an indictment of the offense, not of Heyward-Bey. He's tall (6-2), a burner on the outside and a great deep threat. He should go in the first round.
Michigan
TE Carson Butler: Will enter the draft. Butler has had off-field issues and is a poor blocker for a tight end. But he is athletic – especially for someone who is 6 feet 5 and 250 pounds – and has some receiving skills. Will teams be intrigued enough by his athleticism to overlook his transgressions and his relative lack of production? If so, he could go early on the second day. Then again, he could end up as an undrafted free agent.
Missouri
WR Jeremy Maclin: Will enter the draft. To the surprise of no one, Maclin – a third-year sophomore – decided to turn pro. He has good size and excellent speed, and also is a dangerous return man. He is a sure-fire first-rounder; the only question is how early he goes.
North Carolina
WR Hakeem Nicks: Will enter the draft. He's not a blazer, but he is productive and has good size. He looks like a second- or third-rounder.
TE Richard Quinn: Will enter the draft. Quinn is a good blocker but not much of a receiver. He has been invited to the Combine, and his draft position likely will be determined by his showing there. He has a chance to go in the middle rounds.
Ohio State
WR Brian Hartline: Will enter the draft. Hartline has OK speed, and possesses good hands and solid route-running ability. He also has some return skills. Still, he doesn't have elite speed and never was the No. 1 receiver at Ohio State. He seems likely to be selected on the second half of the second day.
DB Donald Washington: Will enter the draft. He was the Buckeyes' "other" cornerback, playing opposite All-America Malcolm Jenkins. He has good size (6-0/194). Though he doesn't have elite speed, he certainly isn't slow. He has had some off-field issues. He looks like a mid-round pick.
RB Chris Wells: Will enter the draft. Wells suffered through a foot injury in 2008 and wasn't as productive as expected. Still, he's a big back with good speed and should be one of the first two backs selected in the draft.
Oregon
CB Jairus Byrd: Will enter the draft. Byrd has been a productive cornerback, has good speed and boasts solid return skills. If he can impress scouts, he could go in the second round, but he looks more like a third- or-fourth-rounder.
Penn State
DE Maurice Evans: Will enter the draft. He had a great sophomore season but a suspension severely curtailed his junior season – to the point where it's a surprise he is coming out. He's undersized but quick off the edge. His pass-rushing ability means he could go as high as the second round, but that would be a sign that an NFL team thinks his junior season was an aberration.
DE Aaron Maybin: Will enter the draft. He's undersized but a terrific pass rusher off the edge. He has a great first step, and despite his lack of size, he has held up OK against the run. But it's his pass-rushing ability that will entice NFL teams, and he's a likely top-10 or top-15 pick.
Pittsburgh
RB LeSean McCoy: Will enter the draft. After twice saying he was staying for his junior season, McCoy – a third-year sophomore – has decided to leave school. While McCoy doesn't have elite speed, he does have excellent quickness and looks equally comfortable running between the tackles or running wide. He is likely to go in the first round, and could be the first, second or third running back selected.
Rice
TE James Casey: Will enter the draft. Casey, who is 24, spent four years as a minor-league baseball player before playing for Rice. He had a monster season for the high-powered Owls, finishing with 111 receptions and 1,329 receiving yards. He had 13 TD catches, six touchdown runs and also threw two TD passes. He could play H-back in the NFL and seems likely to be a second-day choice.
Rutgers
WR Kenny Britt: Will enter the draft. Britt had a great season, and his size (6 feet 4/215 pounds) makes him an attractive NFL prospect.
South Carolina
SS Emanuel Cook: Will enter the draft. A big-time hitter, but he struggles in coverage. He seems likely to be a second-day pick.
TE Jared Cook: Will enter the draft. He has a lot of upside as a receiver, but must improve as a blocker. He's a big, rangy guy and should go in the second or third round.
CB Captain Munnerlyn: Will enter the draft. Was inconsistent this season, but he has the tools to be a top-flight cover corner. If he impresses the scouts during his workouts, he could become a second0-round pick, but he looks like a second-day guy.
Southern Miss
RB Damion Fletcher: Has not announced
LB Gerald McRath: Will enter the draft. As productive a linebacker as you'll find in the country. He has good size and can run. He's a likely second- or third-rounder.
Texas A&M
RB Mike Goodson: Will enter the draft. He has the physical tools to be a second-day pick and should test well for scouts. However, he is coming off a poor 2008 season. He looks like a mid-round pick at best.
Texas Tech
WR Michael Crabtree: Will enter the draft. He's a draft-eligible sophomore and surprised no one by coming out early. He was incredibly productive in his two seasons in Tech's pass-happy offense, and seems to have everything NFL scouts look for in a go-to receiver: size, speed, hands and route-running ability. It would be a shock if he's not the first receiver drafted, and he certainly will go in the top 10 – and likely the top five.
DE Brandon Williams: Will enter the draft. He was one of the most productive ends in the nation, finishing with 13 sacks. He needs to get better against the run, though, and must gain weight (he played at about 250 pounds). Williams said he was told he would be a third-rounder; that might be a stretch, but there doesn't appear to be any way he will be a first-day pick.
USC
QB Mark Sanchez: Will enter the draft. It's likely that Sam Bradford's decision to remain in school influenced Sanchez's decision to leave; Sanchez looks like a certain first-rounder now. He was only a one-year starter for the Trojans, but he looks to have all the tools to succeed at the next level. The question is whether he goes in the top 10 or between 11th and 20th.
Utah
DE Paul Kruger: Will enter the draft. He's a draft-eligible sophomore who played quarterback in high school. He's a good pass rusher who also was stout against the run. He seems destined to be at least a second-round pick and could move into the first round with some good workouts.
CB Sean Smith: Will enter the draft. He flew under the radar for most of the season, but he has great size for a corner – he's 6-3 – and can run. He had a big performance in the Sugar Bowl. If he shows well for scouts during workouts, he could slip into the first round. At the least, he looks like a second- or third-round pick.
Vanderbilt
CB D.J. Moore: Will enter the draft. Moore was one of the best defensive players in the SEC this season and is seen as a likely first-day pick in the NFL draft.
Virginia
WR Kevin Ogletree: Will enter the draft. Ogletree missed the 2007 season with a knee injury but was productive in his return this season. He has good size but is not a blazer, and he looks to be a mid-round or later pick.
West Virginia
G Greg Isdaner: Will enter the draft. His decision to leave was somewhat of a surprise, though he already has graduated. He seems likely to be a late-round pick.
Wisconsin
RB P.J. Hill: Will enter the draft. He's a between-the-tackles runner who lacks breakaway speed. He seems destined to be a late second-day pick.

Rivals.com is your source for: College Football | Football Recruiting | College Basketball | Basketball Recruiting | College Baseball | High School | College Merchandise
Site-specific editorial/photos © Rivals.com. All rights reserved. This website is an unofficial and independently operated source of news and information not affiliated with any school or team.
About | Advertise with Us | Contact | Privacy Policy | About our Ads | Terms of Service | Copyright/IP policy