NFL Draft 2012: 5 Prospects Who Will Regret Staying in School

The following college prospects will regret not making themselves eligible for the 2012 NFL draft:

Montee Ball, Wisconsin

If there's one position that needs to be cautious about wear and tear, it's running back. In this day and age of the NFL, earning capacity and longevity of running backs are shrinking more and more. Another season at Wisconsin will only add miles to his tires without earning the money he could in the NFL.

And in all reality, can Ball put together a season better than the one he just did to improve his draft stock? This looks like a lose-lose move for Ball's future in football.

Matt Barkley, USC

Are there legitimate reasons for Barkley returning to USC? Of course. The chance to play for a national championship, which USC will be a favorite for next season, is one. Barkley could also be the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft if he has another monster season.

But to be honest, it has never been the case that Barkley's draft stock was hurting coming into the 2012 draft. He was likely to be, at the very least, a top 15 pick. The risk of an injury or regression in his senior season might outweigh the risks of coming back to USC.

Brandon Jenkins, FSU

Pass-rushers are in such high demand in the NFL right now that it's surprising that Jenkins decided to go back to Florida State. Most mock drafts had him as a mid-to-late first-round pick in April.

The fact that he has the potential to play standing up in the 3-4 defense also gives him value. Jenkins is going to need a huge senior season to push his stock higher than it was going into this offseason.

T.J. McDonald, USC

In another watered-down safety class, McDonald had the chance to be the draft's No. 1 safety. That prospect alone likely would have made him a first-round pick. But like Barkley, McDonald is going back to USC to chase a national championship.

In a deeper safety class in 2013, could McDonald get lost? 

Manti Te'o, Notre Dame

Te'o's decision to return to Notre Dame was maybe the most puzzling. His reasoning was similar to McDonald's and Barkley's—Teo wants to help lead Notre Dame to bigger things next season. But with a bunch of really good football players leaving the program after this season, it was likely time for Te'o to enter the draft.

Most draft analysts had him as a top-two inside linebacker and a sure-fire top 20 pick. Teo might regret that next fall as the Fighting Irish struggle through a gauntlet schedule.