10 College Football Players Most Likely to Go Pro Early
As we move into the second half of the 2014 college football season, the games on the field will continue to matter. But the game beyond the game will pick up speed too. As players across America put up standout efforts, fans will begin to wonder, "Will this be the last time I see (insert star here) in our team's stadium?"
And with good reason. Underclassmen are consistently flooding from college football to the NFL ranks, whether they're ready or not. A year ago, 98 underclassmen declared for the NFL draft, and it wouldn't be a surprise if that number is matched (and then some) this spring.
We decided to take a look at 10 players who are most likely to go pro early. This information is based on their likely draft position (as noted by Bleacher Report draft expert Matt Miller), their overall performance and draft stock and information that is available.
It doesn't include every prominent underclassman likely to declare, nor is it a guarantee that they'll all forgo college football for NFL life. But it does give us a good idea of just which underclassmen to watch for the rest of this season.
Alabama S Landon Collins
1 of 10
Alabama returned only three defensive starters this season, but the Crimson Tide defense hasn't missed a beat. Alabama owns a pair of shutouts and is allowing just 13.1 points per game, which ranks No. 3 in the FBS.
Junior safety Landon Collins has played a major role in that dominance. Collins is a clear leader for the Tide's defense and has developed into one of the best safeties in college football. He measures at 6'0", 222 pounds, and has excellent versatility thanks to his ability to play either safety position. Through seven games, Collins has 49 tackles, best on Alabama's roster, with two tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups.
Nick Saban has developed a strong tradition of sending defensive players to the NFL, and Collins appears to be next in line. He ranks No. 9 on Matt Miller's latest Big Board. A year ago, fellow 'Bama safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix declared early and was a first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers. Frankly, it'd be a surprise if Collins didn't follow that path.
Alabama WR Amari Cooper
2 of 10
Amari Cooper has broken out this season as one of college football's top wide receivers. A year ago, the Alabama wideout caught 45 passes for 736 yards and four touchdowns. Through seven games, Cooper has blown past those numbers, making 62 receptions for 908 yards and seven touchdowns.
He is fourth nationally in both receptions and receiving yards and is the favorite target (by far) of Alabama quarterback Blake Sims. At 6'1", 210 pounds, Cooper has ideal size for the position, and he has great speed and leaping ability, a challenge for any cornerback to cover. He's the kind of player good enough to catch a pass thrown where only he can catch it.
Bleacher Report's Matt Miller rates Cooper third overall on his latest Big Board, and it'd be tough for his stock to climb much higher. It'll be a big surprise if Cooper is wearing an Alabama uniform next season.
Nebraska DE Randy Gregory
3 of 10
Nebraska is 6-1 and looks on to be pace for its best season under Bo Pelini's watch. A big reason why? Junior defensive end Randy Gregory.
At 6'6", 240 pounds, Gregory is one of the nation's most active, nasty defensive players.
He makes plays all over the field and is an absolute load for opposing left tackles to account for and slow down. Despite missing a game with injury, Gregory has been very productive this fall. He has 28 tackles, five tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception and nine quarterback hits.
Gregory is best as a pass-rusher but is a versatile player capable of doing many things. He is rated No. 8 on Matt Miller's latest Big Board.
Why else would he consider the draft? He is a fourth-year junior after missing his first season of junior college football with a broken leg. While it's not smart to fear injuries, Gregory would be smart to take the money when it's available to him and head for the NFL.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Georgia RB Todd Gurley
4 of 10
Before being suspended for allegedly accepting payment for autographing memorabilia, Georgia junior tailback Todd Gurley was having a Heisman Trophy-caliber season, with 773 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in just five games, averaging 8.2 yards per attempt.
Georgia has applied to the NCAA for Gurley's reinstatement, which could come as early as Saturday. If he returns, Bulldog fans should savor what they see of their star tailback, because this is likely his final season in a UGA uniform.
If anything, Gurley's two-game suspension helped his NFL stock, because it was two fewer games of wear and tear on his body—an important factor for pro scouts, considering NFL tailbacks' short shelf life. He has tremendous power and burst and checks in at No. 6 on Matt Miller’s latest Big Board. It'd be a huge upset if he was back in Athens next fall.
UCLA QB Brett Hundley
5 of 10
Following last season, UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley considered leaving for the NFL as a third-year sophomore following a strong season: 3,071 yards passing with 24 touchdowns against nine interceptions, and 748 rushing yards with 11 touchdowns. He decided to return but declared this would be his final season of college football.
Hundley and the Bruins have been somewhat underwhelming this fall. He has thrown for 1,856 yards with 13 touchdowns against four interceptions, completing 72.5 percent of his passes. He has also rushed for 305 yards and four touchdowns but has found himself struggling to find room to operate behind a shaky offensive line.
The junior told Chris Foster of the Los Angeles Times that "nothing has changed" regarding his draft status, although perhaps he should think again. An unnamed scout tells Foster that Hundley "has to really consider" returning for his senior season.
That doesn't appear likely for the versatile, talented quarterback, who sits at No. 15 on Matt Miller's Big Board. Expect Hundley to declare for the draft once UCLA's season wraps up.
Oregon QB Marcus Mariota
6 of 10Oregon junior quarterback Marcus Mariota made Ducks fans happy when he decided to return for his third season of college football, and with good reason. Mariota, who stands 6'4", 219 pounds, has established himself as college football's top quarterback and a prime Heisman Trophy candidate.
A year ago, Mariota threw for 3,665 yards with 31 touchdowns against four interceptions, and he is on pace to improve on those numbers this fall. He has 19 touchdowns with no interceptions and 1,957 passing yards, as well as five rushing touchdowns.
He has NFL size and excellent elusiveness, capable of making things happen in the pocket. He is rated as the top overall player on Matt Miller's latest Big Board.
Mariota told The Oregonian's Andrew Greif that he hasn't thought about his decision yet:
"I'm really trying to prolong it as much as I can because once you start diving into those things, it can become a distraction. There are lot of things that kind of play into those decisions. I'm waiting 'til the end of the year and we'll make the decision as a family.
"
But he really doesn't have much of a decision to make, in the end.
Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong
7 of 10
Arizona State has one of college football's most prolific offenses, and junior wide receiver Jaelen Strong has played a huge role in it. A year ago, Strong caught 75 passes for 1,122 yards and seven scores, and he has built on that this fall, making 49 receptions for 689 yards and six touchdowns.
According to SI.com's Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans, that has caught the attention of NFL scouts. Thamel and Evans reported this week that Strong is expected to declare for the NFL draft and could be a late first-round to early second-round selection. They quoted a scout who said Strong is "physical and competitive with great hands," comparing him to New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston.
Strong doesn't appear in Matt Miller's latest top 50 and might not be a top-10 pick, but he could be a real find for someone late in the first round or early on the second day of the draft.
Washington LB Shaq Thompson
8 of 10
Shaq Thompson is one of the most exciting defenders in college football and one of its most versatile. He has four defensive touchdowns, tops among FBS players, with three fumble returns for scores and an interception-return touchdown. He also has scored a touchdown for Washington as a tailback.
He has 52 tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a sack.
Such versatility and active play is attractive to NFL scouts, which makes Thompson a strong candidate to leave Washington early for the NFL. Matt Miller rates the 6'1", 228-pound junior as the No. 10 player on his latest Big Board, and it'd be a surprise if Thompson returned for his final season of eligibility.
Southern California DE Leonard Williams
9 of 10
One of the nastiest defensive linemen in college football is Southern California junior defensive end Leonard Williams. The junior, who stands 6'5", 300 pounds, makes as much of an impact as any lineman in the nation. He is capable of shedding offensive linemen's blocks and making life very difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
Williams has 45 tackles, five tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, as well as an interception. He has drawn favorable comparisons to Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Williams is rated as the No. 4 overall player on Matt Miller's latest Big Board, and he's a strong bet to declare for the 2015 NFL draft.
Florida State QB Jameis Winston
10 of 10
If you watched Florida State's thrilling 31-27 win over Notre Dame, you saw why Jameis Winston is such an impressive NFL prospect. The 6'4", 230-pound sophomore quarterback had a great game, completing 23 of 31 passes for 273 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
On the season, he has thrown for 1,878 yards with 13 touchdowns against six interceptions, completing over 70 percent of his passes.
Controversy and tumult have surrounded Winston off the field, most notably a sexual assault investigation for which he is still facing a Florida State University student conduct hearing. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported that Winston is expected to declare for the draft, citing an "adversarial" relationship with FSU officials.
At this rate, it'd be a stunner if the third-year sophomore, who Matt Miller ranks No. 12 on his Big Board, didn't end his collegiate career once FSU's season wraps up.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
