Projecting the Top College Football Superstars Who Will Leave Early for the NFL
Laremy Tunsil, Joey Bosa and Jared Goff lead a strong collection of underclassmen headed into the 2016 NFL draft, but which prospects eligible to declare early in 2017 will follow suit?
Most of these players have established themselves as household names by posting massive numbers, but a few others are versatile or powerful athletes.
Although the following talents won't necessarily be the 10 top-rated prospects, they are undeniable superstars at the college level.
And just one year from now, they'll be working out in front of NFL teams.
Royce Freeman, RB, Oregon
1 of 10
Oregon endured a roller-coaster 2015 season, but Royce Freeman was steadily fantastic.
He never rushed for fewer than 77 yards, topping the 100-yard barrier 11 times—including a nine-game streak to end the campaign.
Freeman, who tallied 1,365 yards and 18 touchdowns as a freshman, finished his sophomore year with 1,836 yards and 17 scores. The third-team AP All-American added 26 receptions for 348 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Barring injury, Freeman should reach 800 career carries by the end of 2016. He won't have anything more to prove.
Jabrill Peppers, RB/CB/S, Michigan
2 of 10Heading into the 2015 season, we knew Jabrill Peppers had the potential to contribute in every facet of the game. However, an injury robbed the versatile standout of his true freshman campaign, so we'd never seen it.
That changed—in a big way.
Peppers spent most of his time as a nickelback for Michigan, recording 45 total tackles (5.5 for loss) and 10 pass breakups while also working as a safety.
Additionally, he averaged 27.9 yards per kick return and 11.4 on punts. The Wolverines slowly worked Peppers into the offensive rotation, and he rushed for two touchdowns.
Some of Michigan's top draft-eligible stars—wideout Jourdan Lewis and tight end Jake Butt, for example—elected to return for the 2016 season, but it wouldn't be surprising to see Peppers leave along with them next year.
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia
3 of 10
Though a left knee injury ended Nick Chubb's sophomore season after just six games, the Georgia star was simply dominant during those appearances.
Chubb racked up 8.1 yards per carry, registering 747 yards and seven touchdowns. The 5'10", 220-pounder reached at least 120 yards in each of his five healthy outings.
As a true freshman, he amassed 1,547 yards and 14 scores.
The 2016 campaign will give Chubb an opportunity to prove he's fully recovered from the surgery. If all goes well, Chubb has little reason to risk another unpaid injury.
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Adoree' Jackson, CB, USC
4 of 10
Adoree' Jackson is essentially Peppers with two years of tape.
USC has utilized the 5'11", 185-pound Olympic hopeful as a starting cornerback, where he's managed 84 total tackles, 17 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and an interception in 2014 and 2015 combined.
Plus, Jackson has contributed as a receiver and returner. In addition to 37 catches for 552 yards and five touchdowns, he's accumulated 25.9 yards per kick return with two touchdowns as well as 10.1 yards per punt return and two additional scores.
Jackson has a bright NFL future, and it should start in 2017.
Cam Robinson, LT, Alabama
5 of 10
Tunsil is widely projected as the No. 1 overall selection in 2016 because NFL teams must protect their franchise quarterbacks. Cam Robinson shouldn't be much different.
A two-year starter at left tackle for Alabama, the 6'6", 326-pound mauler has certainly earned his early first-round billing.
The school's official website credits Robinson with 76 knockdown blocks during his two college seasons. He's consistently performed well against some of the nation's top competition, like Myles Garrett of Texas A&M.
You think Robinson will look good in a Cleveland Browns uniform?
Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
6 of 10Despite splitting carries with Karlos Williams, Dalvin Cook eclipsed the 1,000-yard barrier as a true freshman.
There was no timeshare last season.
Cook scampered for at least 100 yards in eight of his 12 games and notched 150 or more a stunning six times. He finished with 1,691 yards and 19 touchdowns, also securing 24 receptions for 244 yards and another score.
Florida State's young offensive line from 2015 will soon be labeled an experienced group, and Cook will be the primary beneficiary of a more cohesive unit next year.
Plus, since he'll be approaching 750 career rushes, Cook should forgo his final year of eligibility and sprint toward the NFL.
Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
7 of 10
Myles Garrett is one of three players who recorded at least 10 sacks in each of the last two seasons. If that trend doesn't continue, it's likely because he received the Joey Bosa triple-team treatment.
Texas A&M's outstanding defensive end broke the SEC record for most sacks (11.0) by a freshman, breaking the previous mark held by future No. 1 pick Jadeveon Clowney.
In 2015, Garrett registered 11.5 sacks and earned third-team AP All-American honors. He accrued 19.5 tackles for loss and forced five fumbles, the second-most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
The question isn't if Garrett will be a first-round choice next year; rather, it's how high he'll be selected.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
8 of 10Pac-12 defenses must try to contain Christian McCaffrey for another season. Good luck with that.
He shredded defenses for 2,019 rushing yards last season, the nation's second-highest total. McCaffrey's 45 receptions ranked sixth among FBS running backs, while his 645 yards were No. 2.
Stanford also used McCaffrey as a kick returner, where he compiled 1,070 yards—the nation's third-best mark. Just for good measure, the Heisman Trophy runner-up threw two touchdowns.
McCaffrey assembled six performances of 300-plus all-purpose yards, ultimately setting an NCAA record with 3,864 on the year.
Considering he'll have nearly 900 touches post-2016, McCaffrey's first one during the 2017 campaign ought to come with a paycheck.
Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
9 of 10If the rules had allowed it, Leonard Fournette probably would've turned pro after last season. Alas, the LSU monster must spend one more year in school.
Unfortunate for him. Terrific for college football fans.
Fournette trampled each of the team's first seven opponents in 2015 for at least 150 yards en route to 1,953 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore. He successfully built on a freshman year that ended with 1,034 yards and 10 scores.
Running backs typically aren't drafted high anymore, but for Fournette, an NFL club will likely make an exception.
Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
10 of 10Deshaun Watson flashed excellence as a freshman, but a broken hand and knee injury limited his production. In 2015, he made up for lost action.
The dual-threat weapon set a Clemson record with 4,109 passing yards, tallying 35 touchdowns while tossing just 13 interceptions. Watson also scampered for 1,102 yards—the third-most by an FBS quarterback—and 12 scores.
A first-team AP All-American, he earned the Davey O'Brien Award after being named the ACC Player of the Year. Watson finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Every year, NFL front offices look for a potential franchise quarterback during the draft. One fortunate team can stop its search with Watson.
Stats from cfbstats.com or B/R research. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report CFB Writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.
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