College Football's Winners and Losers of 2015 NFL Draft Early Entry Decisions
The Jan. 15 deadline to declare for the NFL draft has passed. As far as we can tell, we have the unofficial list of underclassmen who will leave college early and turn pro.
Maybe as important, we have the list of underclassmen who won't. Like every year, certain players bypassed the draft to return for their junior or senior seasons, putting off a paycheck to remain at school, even though the NFL thought highly of them.
The biggest losers of this process aren't the teams that lost the most players necessarily. It has more to do with context than quantity. Oregon lost Marcus Mariota, but we've known he was going to leave since September. That doesn't count. What counts is losing a surprise player, someone whose future was on the fence.
Sound off with your own winners and losers below.
Winner: Alabama
1 of 14
Key Players Returning
- LB Reggie Ragland
- DT Jarran Reed
Key Players Leaving
- S Landon Collins
- WR Amari Cooper
- RB T.J. Yeldon
Alabama had no chance to keep Landon Collins, Amari Cooper and T.J. Yeldon. Reggie Ragland and Jarran Reed were on the fence, however, and both chose to return to school. The Crimson Tide secondary is an issue, and will continue to be an issue, but now at least the front seven won't be. It will once again carry the team.
Loser: Central Florida
2 of 14
Key Players Leaving
- CB Jacoby Glenn
- WR Breshad Perriman
One year after losing Blake Bortles and Storm Johnson as underclassmen, Central Florida loses Jacoby Glenn and Breshad Perriman. Only this time, instead of losing their two best players from a team that beat Baylor in the Fiesta Bowl, the Golden Knights lose their two best players from a team that lost the Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl to NC State. It's hard to say which one is worse.
Winner: Auburn
3 of 14
Key Players Returning
- LB Kris Frost
- LB Cassanova McKinzy
- WR D'haquille Williams
- OL Avery Young
Key Players Leaving
- WR Sammie Coates
- OL Patrick Miller
Auburn went 1-for-2 with wide receivers and offensive linemen, and it probably kept the better two players. D'haquille Williams in particular is the more complete weapon than Sammie Coates. Throw in the return of two starting linebackers, Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy, and it's safe to say the Tigers came out winners.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Loser: Florida
4 of 14
Key Players Leaving
- DE Dante Fowler
- OT D.J. Humphries
- RB Matt Jones
- OG Tyler Moore
Key Players Returning
- LB Antonio Morrison
Of course Dante Fowler was going to leave; that's not why Florida made this list. It made this list because of D.J. Humphries and Tyler Moore, two linemen who had no business declaring for the NFL draft but who are just good enough that Florida couldn't afford to lose them. Matt Jones leaving is fine; the Gators have Kelvin Taylor and Adam Lane. But Humphries and Moore leaving means the Gators return just one starter along the offensive line.
(Welcome to Groundhog Day, Doug Nussmeier!)
Winner: Baylor
5 of 14
Key Players Returning
- OT Spencer Drango
- DE Shawn Oakman
Baylor kept its two best linemen, even though both Spencer Drango and Shawn Oakman had a chance to be first-round picks. Both made the All-Big 12 first team in 2014, which means the Bears now return all four of their first-teamers (the other two being running back Shock Linwood and defensive tackle Andrew Billings).
Loser: Louisville
6 of 14
Key Players Leaving
- CB Charles Gaines
- S Gerod Holliman
- S James Sample
Key Players Returning
- LB James Burgess
So much for staggering losses. The Cardinals lose three underclassmen defensive backs from one of the best secondaries in college football—a unit that could have gone from great to special in 2015. Fortunately, Georgia transfers Josh Harvey-Clemons and Shaq Wiggins are around to pick up the slack. Sill, it would have been nice to keep one out of Charles Gaines, Gerod Holliman and James Sample.
Winner: Michigan State
7 of 14
Key Players Returning
- DE Shilique Calhoun
- QB Connor Cook
- OT Jack Conklin
Key Players Leaving
- CB Trae Waynes
"I have unfinished business," said Connor Cook on his return to school, per Noah Lister of The Associated Press. And it appears he got his teammates to buy in. Cornerback Trae Waynes declared, which was expected, but potential first-round picks Shilique Calhoun and Jack Conklin will join Cook on his mission to beat Ohio State. Each of that trio has the upside of an All-American.
Loser: Florida State
8 of 14
Key Players Leaving
- CB Ronald Darby
- DE Mario Edwards Jr.
- DT Eddie Goldman
- CB P.J. Williams
- QB Jameis Winston
Key Players Returning
- K Roberto Aguayo
- LB Terrence Smith
Florida State lost four players from an underwhelming defense and the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner. Suffice it to say, that's a loss. None of the five Noles who left were expected to stay, but sometimes, even the lack of a surprise return constitutes a bad cycle. And Roberto Aguayo, no matter how automatic, does not count as a "surprise."
Winner: LSU
9 of 14
Key Players Returning
- OG Vadal Alexander
- WR Travin Dural
- OT Jerald Hawkins
- DB Jalen Mills
Key Players Leaving
- LB Kwon Alexander
- DB Jalen Collins
- DE Danielle Hunter
LSU lost six early entries after 2013 and 11 after 2012. Losing three is a monster improvement. That might be a product of diminished success—fine: It's a product of diminished success—but a bittersweet win is still a win. Vadal Alexander and Jerald Hawkins will pave big holes for Leonard Fournette's Heisman run, no matter who plays quarterback, and Jalen Mills will keep the secondary tight.
Loser: Penn State
10 of 14
Key Players Leaving
- DE Deion Barnes
- TE Jesse James
- OT Donovan Smith
Jesse James was one of the best tight ends in the Big Ten, but Penn State has the depth to cover his loss. The same cannot be said of left tackle Donovan Smith, the best player from an abysmal offensive line that now must find a new anchor. Deion Barnes was an on-the-fence guy who probably could have improved his stock with another good season but jumped the gun and declared.
Winner: Notre Dame
11 of 14
Key Players Returning
- DL Sheldon Day
- OT Ronnie Stanley
Before he announced his return, Ronnie Stanley was the No. 15 overall player on Matt Miller's B/R big board. The more people watched his tape, the more likely his going in the top five or 10 would have become. His return bodes well for whoever wins the quarterback job between Everett Golson and Malik Zaire. The same cannot be said, however, of the QBs who must deal with Sheldon Day.
Loser: Stanford
12 of 14
Key Players Leaving
- CB Alex Carter
- OT Andrus Peat
Key Players Returning
- QB Kevin Hogan
Stanford brought back quarterback Kevin Hogan, but really, he was never going to leave. It lost Hogan's left tackle, however, which could hurt in 2015. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report was wary when Andrus Peat declared, saying he was "not sure this is his best move." No one can fault Alex Carter for leaving, but his absence will loom large in a secondary that also loses Jordan Richards.
Winner: Ohio State
13 of 14
Key Players Returning
- OT Taylor Decker
- QB Cardale Jones
- DL Adolphus Washington
Key Players Leaving
- DE Noah Spence
Even if he doesn't start, Cardale Jones ensures there will always be depth at quarterback, no matter what happens with Braxton Miller. But left tackle Taylor Decker, the rock of Ohio State's offensive line, and defensive tackle Adolphus Washington, a three-year contributor, are actually the bigger returnees. Especially with Michael Bennett leaving, OSU needed Washington back in Columbus.
Loser: USC
14 of 14
Key Players Leaving
- WR Nelson Agholor
- RB Javorius "Buck" Allen
- WR George Farmer
- DL Leonard William
Key Players Returning
- QB Cody Kessler
Cody Kessler will be back, but he'll be down two of his three favorite targets. Nelson Agholor's departure was warranted (same goes for Leonard Williams), but George Farmer's came as a shock. The Trojans still have weapons in the passing game, but especially now that Buck Allen has declared, their margin for error has slimmed.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
