College Football's Winners and Losers of 2017 NFL Draft Early-Entry Decisions
The deadline for early entries into April's NFL draft passed Monday, gutting the college game of some of its most dynamic players, as it does every year.
News of USC do-it-all defender and Jim Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Adoree' Jackson bolting early for the NFL punctuated a massive group of 96 players deciding to forego college eligibility and try their hand at millions in the pros.
From Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson to Texas A&M star defensive end Myles Garrett, there is enough talent in the group of non-seniors to fill up draft boards across the internet.
So, who made the right decisions and who should have stayed? What teams are affected the most? What players standing the shadows stand to benefit the most from departures of stud teammates?
Let's take a look at some of the biggest winners and losers around college football after the barrage of early-entry decisions. As always, make your additions in the comments section.
Winner: Georgia
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Throughout Kirby Smart's first year at Georgia, there were plenty of ups and downs. And while freshman quarterback Jacob Eason showed glimmers of his immense ability, he's by no means a finished product.
That's why it's such big news for the Bulldogs that running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel elected to return to Athens for their senior seasons.
"They're committed to the University of Georgia by saying I'm going to come back, get my degree, finish this thing right," Smart told the Associated Press' Charles Odum. "They care about Georgia. They care about their career too, but they care about Georgia."
The duo will enter 2017 as one of college football's top returning tandems, and having them as a security blanket will allow Eason more time to develop. With a strong recruiting class expected to be signed at UGA, the Bulldogs should enter the year as the favorite in an open (and down) SEC East.
A big reason for that is Chubb and Michel, and especially the former if he returns to the pre-knee injury, All-American form.
It's a major boost to the program for those guys to come back, and they'll help while Smart builds his program the way he wants it. The Bulldogs stand to be one of the biggest winners in all of college football thanks to their decision.
Loser: Christian McCaffery
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One of the biggest draft-day enigmas is shaping up to be Stanford running back Christian McCaffrey.
He never was a rubber-stamped first-round pick, anyway, and given some of the negative publicity after his decision to skip the bowl game in order to prepare for the NFL draft, it may not go over well with some professional executives.
If he's talented enough, it won't matter. That seems to be the case for fellow bowl-skipper, LSU running back Leonard Fournette, who will be a first-round pick unless a stunner happens.
It's not so cut and dry for McCaffrey. Some teams could see him as somebody who isn't going to be an every-down back in the league.
NFL.com's Lance Zierlein noted McCaffrey's draft grades would be all over the board, and if one of those teams that rates him highly looks elsewhere, he could slip. How much the decisions of McCaffrey, Fournette and Oklahoma's Charles Walker rate in that discussion, who knows?
Dallas star rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott didn't approve of McCaffrey's choice, according to a series of tweets rehashed by the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore.
"All these young guys deciding to skip their bowl games," Elliott wrote. "I would do anything to play one time with my brothers in that scarlet and gray. One last time to honor your university and one last chance to play with your boys who will be your brothers for life."
Winner: Ohio State's Vaunted Recruiting Class
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It's quite an impressive haul of recruits Ohio State czar Urban Meyer is bringing in to Columbus this February, a class currently ranked fourth by Scout.com and even higher on some other recruiting sites.
With Meyer at the helm, the Buckeyes have become "Alabama North" in terms of a football factory, churning out early entrants every year.
Last season, Ohio State set a new record with 10 players selected in the NFL draft's first three rounds, and it could be another Buckeye-flavored slate this year, especially on defense.
Five OSU players are leaving early, including receiver Noah Brown, cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley, safety Malik Hooker and linebacker Raekwon McMillan. That means there are going to be plenty of openings for talented recruits.
Outside linebacker Baron Browning, defensive end Chase Young, athlete Jeffrey Okudah and others appear to have that ability, and Meyer may need them to step right in and play. He's proven in the past he isn't scared to get guys in games early.
The Buckeyes will hurt from the early departures, but nobody is worried about their ability to reload with Meyer at the helm.
Loser: Miami
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There's no wonder with all that talent in Coral Gables that Al Golden was fired for not winning as much as he should have.
Though the Hurricanes weren't dominant in head coach Mark Richt's first season, they did show flashes of brilliance and then went on to win the Russell Athletic Bowl over West Virginia in a bit of a shocker. Now, Richt will have to turn on his recruiting savvy to make up for plenty of departing talent.
Given Richt's resume, it should happen. But it may not be a quick fix.
The Canes are losing five early entrants, including star quarterback Brad Kaaya and running back Joseph Yearby. Though both are uber-talented, it seems both would have done well to stay their final seasons.
Kaaya especially could use some more polish, despite being a three-year starter. Even so, somebody with his upside may seem easy to mold by NFL executives. For Miami, his departure is going to sting.
Tight end David Njoku is going to be a big loss for whoever takes over for Kaaya, as well. Throw in linebacker Jermaine Grace and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad and that's a lot of talent exiting the U. It's raw talent, too, so it's puzzling why they'd all go.
The Canes need Richt to recruit difference-makers and do it quickly.
Winner: Mitch Trubisky
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Could North Carolina signal-caller Mitch Trubisky have used another season to polish his skills after just 13 collegiate starts under his belt? Absolutely.
But players with the intelligence, physical attributes and playbook acumen of the Tar Heels quarterback need to strike while their stock is hot. The 6'3", 209-pound signal-caller may not be the prototype can't-miss NFL prospect, but some outlets are projecting him to go very high.
CBSSports.com's Rob Rang has Trubisky going first overall to the Cleveland Browns, and he isn't the only analyst that has the North Carolina player shooting up draft boards.
"Barring the addition of a veteran in the offseason, the most likely scenario come spring has Cleveland giving Hue Jackson his pick of a shaky quarterback class. CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora has reported that the Browns are already honing in on Trubisky, an Ohio native and childhood Browns fan. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Trubisky has the tools and intangibles to excite but is a huge projection as an NFL franchise quarterback after only emerging UNC's starter this season.
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Bleacher Report's Matt Miller has him going second to San Francisco. If you're Trubisky, you can't pass on that kind of potential money, no matter how little seasoning you've got.
It'll be interesting to see if a player like Watson has a brilliant combine and goes higher ultimately, but Trubisky almost certainly won't slip out of the first round. For that reason alone, he's a big winner.
Loser: Oklahoma's Offensive Backfield
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No matter how much (or little) he'll say publicly, there's no question Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops will be glad to move on from all the drama surrounding running back Joe Mixon's negative headline-filled career in Norman.
But he'll definitely miss Mixon's talent and production.
The same goes for OU fellow runner Samaje Perine, who is also leaving Oklahoma early to try his hand on the next level.
As much as Georgia should be excited about the return of Chubb and Michel, Sooners will lament the departure of the Mixon-Perine duo. They combined for 2,978 offensive yards and 28 touchdowns for the 11-2 Sooners that won the Big 12.
Even though quarterback Baker Mayfield is coming back for his final season in Norman, he'll have a rough time replicating the team's offensive numbers without those two potential superstars behind him.
The draft status of both will be interesting to see. For Perine, he dealt with some injuries in his career, and though he isn't an explosive player, he is a big-bodied back who could be a strong NFL player in the right system.
Mixon's biggest question is who will take on his baggage after he was suspended a year for punching a female student. There's no denying his talent is first-round worthy, but the NFL team that takes a shot at him will deal with some negativity.
Regardless, Oklahoma is going to miss both of their production.
Winner: Deon Cain
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Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is one of those coaches like Alabama's Nick Saban and Ohio State's Urban Meyer who reloads on talent every year.
Following the Tigers' magical national championship run that ended with a last-second victory over Alabama, Clemson will have more than its share of offensive questions to answer. Not only must the Tigers deal with Watson's departure, but receivers Mike Williams and Artavis Scott also are leaving early.
When you toss in senior tight end Jordan Leggett leaving, that is a lot of catches for offensive coordinator Jeff Scott and Co. to fill.
Perhaps the biggest beneficiary of that will be receiver Deon Cain, who has superior talent and could become the next pass-catching superstar in a growing line of them from Clemson. The 6'1" sophomore had 38 catches for 724 yards and nine touchdowns this past year, growing into a big-play threat.
Though Watson will be gone, there are a lot of potential options from which Swinney to choose. Backup Kelly Bryant is a dual-threat player who has shown flashes, and youngsters Chase Brice and Zerrick Cooper have plenty of ability, too.
The Tigers also have stud signal-caller Hunter Johnson committed, so with a stable like that, it doesn't look like Swinney will be hurting for options.
Whoever it is is going to be excited about looking downfield and seeing Cain. He's poised for a monster junior year.
Loser: Florida
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One of the reasons why Georgia is expected to perhaps break out in the SEC in 2017 is because of all prime counterparts Tennessee and Florida will lose.
The Vols will be without senior quarterback Joshua Dobbs, and juniors such as Alvin Kamara, Derek Barnett and Josh Malone will be difficult to replace, too.
But the Gators lost even more than that, and unfortunately for head coach Jim McElwain, the defense that has carried his team to the SEC Championship Game in the past two seasons must replace a slew of talent if it's going to match the immense production of 2015 and '16.
Five Gators are heading out, and four of them are on a stout defense, including defensive lineman Caleb Brantley, linebacker Alex Anzalone and dynamic cornerbacks Jalen "Teez" Tabor and Quincy Wilson. Offensive lineman David Sharpe is leaving, too, but the biggest hits will be on the other side of the ball.
Factor in senior middle linebacker Jarrad Davis, and that's a lot for new defensive coordinator Randy Shannon to deal with.
If there was ever a time for the Gators to flip from a defense-oriented team to offensive, it would be now. But there's still a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball. The offense is just going to have to pull its weight a little more than it has.
If not, McElwain will be looking up at Georgia for the next few years.
Winner: New Oregon Coach Willie Taggart
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It's not a complete rebuild for new Oregon head coach Willie Taggart, who is tasked with making the Ducks dynamic again.
Following the failed tenure of former coach Mark Helfrich, Oregon is trying to make its way back from the wastelands to become one of college football's most fearsome teams again. It's obvious with pegging Taggart they want to keep the emphasis on the offensive side of the ball.
The biggest recruit Taggart could have snagged already committed to the Ducks when running back Royce Freeman elected to return for his senior season. Under the tutelage of Taggart, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that he could be a Heisman Trophy contender.
Injuries derailed a junior season in which he only rushed for 945 yards in 11 games, but he has 4,146 yards in three seasons, second to LaMichael James on Oregon's career list.
Tabbing Taggart was one of the main reasons Freeman stayed.
"However, the prospect of playing for Coach Taggart my final year here was certainly a factor in my return," Freeman told the Associated Press' Anne M. Peterson. "His enthusiasm and vision for this program are contagious. I am certainly excited to be coached by him and enhance my development."
With Freeman back, Oregon has a key puzzle piece in helping it turn its fortunes from a 4-8 season as it battles to get back to bowl eligibility. Freeman could rush into the history books and help his proud program return to prominence.
Loser: The College Football Playoff Participants
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We've already discussed some of the important departures for Clemson and Ohio State, but they aren't the only teams losing a lot of talent.
As a matter of fact, the other two College Football Playoff teams (Alabama and Washington) are losing their share, too.
The Crimson Tide are losing offensive tackle Cam Robinson, receiver ArDarius Stewart and cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Chris Petersen's Huskies are going to have to replace some studs, also, as receiver John Ross, safety Budda Baker, cornerback Sidney Jones and defensive lineman Elijah Qualls are heading out.
That means the four playoff teams are having to deal with the losses of 17 combined players.
It's expected for college football's best teams to have the best players and to get contributions from players other than seniors. So, to call college football's biggest winners "losers" here is a bit of a stretch.
But you'd better believe these coaches know they've got to have youngsters step up who can fill those huge shoes. Thankfully for these teams, they've got four of the best coaches in college football to do it.
Though Washington recruits to its certain style, the other three will be among the nation's top recruiting classes, too, so they'll just restock the pantries.
And they'll be back. Probably sooner rather than later.
Winner: SEC Pass-Rushers
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Alabama's senior star Jonathan Allen returned to school for his final season, and he'll be rewarded as one of the top defenders taken overall, easily projected in everybody's top 10.
But he may not be the best pro prospect in his own league.
That distinction would probably go to Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett, who Miller believes will go first overall to Cleveland. Though the Aggies' pass-rusher had some of his biggest games against lesser opponents, he has the physical attributes that make NFL general managers salivate.
Allen's teammate Tim Williams is also expected to go high in the draft, and Miller has Tennessee's all-time sacks leader Derek Barnett going 15th overall to Indianapolis after he broke Reggie White's school record for career sacks in the Volunteers' Music City Bowl win over Nebraska.
Though he isn't a unanimous first-round pick by any means, Missouri's Charles Harris could sneak in as well with strong workouts, given the Tigers' rich history of producing NFL defensive linemen. He left early and is projected as USA Today's Luke Easterling's No. 63 overall player.
Star power such as Garrett, Allen, Barnett and Williams don't come around every day, so when the Tennessee and Texas A&M stars decided to come out, it gave the SEC a rich defensive presence in the upper picks of the first round.
With players like that, it's going to be interesting to see where they go, and just how the teams they're leaving plan to replace them.
Loser: College Football Fans
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Listen: There's nothing wrong with the way college football does things, so let's get that out of the way.
It's actually much better than college basketball in that a player must be three years removed from high school to declare for the NFL draft. But that doesn't mean we still shouldn't have a bad case of the bummers this time every year.
The NFL is great, but it's not the same as college football, and it's sad to think that our days of watching Adoree' Jackson shred special teams, intercept passes and work magic in the open field are over. It's tough to think of Clemson flinging the ball downfield with somebody other than great quarterback Deshaun Watson.
It's time for guys like that to go make their millions, and good on them. They're seasoned enough to go to the NFL and make instant impacts.
But for those of us who live and breathe the college game, it's always bittersweet to see some of our favorite players leave a year early. It's great to be happy for them and their families, but selfishly, you only see them in their college environments once.
It's cool to follow them throughout their careers on the next level, but there's always going to be something about amateur athletics, the joy and excitement in its purest form, that makes it more special.
Quotes and information gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats gathered on CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted.
Brad Shepard covers SEC football and is the Tennessee lead writer for Bleacher Report. Follow Brad on Twitter: @Brad_Shepard.
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