College Football: Which Teams Were Hit Hardest By Players Leaving Early for NFL?

Jan. 15 has come and gone, and 55 players have announced their intentions to forgo their remaining collegiate eligibility, and enter the NFL draft.

Needless to say, some programs went unscathed, some programs had minor losses, and some teams really took it on the chin.

This article will focus on the latter; the teams that not only lost key elements of their 2011 squad in terms of quantity, but also in terms of quality.

How will it affect a team's chance at winning their conference or even the national title? Could a departed wide receiver have potentially saved his coach's job if he'd stayed?

We won't know until September, but right now, I'm sure the following 10 teams wish they could have these players back.

Utah Utes

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SAN DIEGO - NOVEMBER 20: Wide receiver DeMarco Sampson #1 of the San Diego State Aztecs makes a catch over cornerback Brandon Burton #27 of the Utah Utes at Qualcomm Stadium on November 20, 2010 in San Diego, California. Utah won 38-34. (Photo by Steph

Players Leaving:

Brandon Burton CB: 51 TKLS, 1 TFL, 1 FF, 2 INT

Second team All-Mountain West 2010

Projects to get picked mid-late second round.

Sealver Siliga DT: 41 TKLS, 4 TFL, 1.5 SKS

Honorable mention All-Mountain West 2010

Projects to remain undrafted.

Impact on Utah: Remains to be seen. The Utes already have players penciled in to take Burton and Siliga's places.

However, with only five returning starters on defense, and the move to the Pac-10, Utah could have used some experience in the middle, and a lock-down corner.

Good News: By themselves, these are not crushing blows. If Utah had more returning starters to begin with, they would be fairly tolerable losses.

Louisiana State Tigers

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BATON ROUGE, LA - NOVEMBER 20: Patrick Peterson #7 of the Louisiana State University Tigers breaks up a pass intended for Korvic Neat #28 of the Ole Miss Rebels at Tiger Stadium on November 20, 2010 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Gett

Players Leaving:

Patrick Peterson CB: 42 TKLS, 1.5 TFL, 4 INTS. Punt Returns: 16.08 YPR, 2 TDS. Kickoff Returns: 29.13 YPR

First team All-SEC 2010 as both cornerback and return specialist. Consensus All American as cornerback.

Projects to get picked top five in draft.

Stevan Ridley RB: 249 ATT, 1,147 YDS, 4.61 YPC, 15 TD, 11 REC, 61 YDS, 5.55 YPC

First team All-SEC 2010

Projects to get picked in the fourth round.

Impact on LSU: The loss of Ridley is moderate. The loss of Peterson is substantial. Obviously, he is not only a lock-down cornerback, but an ace return specialist.

With 16 returning starters, the Tigers are poised to make a run for a national title this year. With aspirations that high, every last player makes a difference. In the case of Peterson, it could make the difference.

Good News: The Tigers have plenty of talent at the running back position. The question is whether one back can handle Ridley's work load, or whether Les Miles will go with a running back-by-committee.

Alabama Crimson Tide

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ORLANDO, FL - JANUARY 01: Julio Jones #8 of the Alabama Crimson Tide rushes for a touchdown during the Capitol One Bowl against the Michigan State Spartans at the Florida Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty I

Players Leaving: 

Marcell Dareus DL: (played in 11 games) 33 TKLS, 11 TFL, 4.5 SKS

First team All-SEC 2010

Projects to get picked top five-mid first round.

Mark Ingram RB: (played in 11 games) 158 ATT, 875 YDS, 5.54 YPC, 13 TDS, 21 REC, 282 YDS, 13.43 YPC, 1 TD

Second team All-SEC 2010, Consensus All-American 2009, Heisman Trophy winner 2009

Projects to get picked mid-late first round.

Julio Jones WR: 78 REC, 1,133 YDS, 14.53 YPC, 7 TDS

First team All-SEC 2010

Projects to get picked mid first round.

Impact on Alabama: Ingram's loss is minimal. Dareus is a loss, but the Tide have experienced talent ready to take his place.

On the other hand, Jones is a substantial loss. He has been Alabama's leading receiver for three years straight.

Good News: Trent Richardson will step right in for Ingram. And Eddie Lacy behind him.

On the line, Damion Square will be ready to replace Dareus.

Outside of Jones and tight end Preston Dial, all of Bama's top receivers return. None of them are the presence that Jones was, but there are experienced, talented players who are ready to play.

UCLA Bruins

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PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 18: Linebacker Akeem Ayers #10 of the UCLA Bruins in the game with the Houston Cougars at the Rose Bowl on September 18, 2010 in Pasadena, California. UCLA won 31-13. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Players Leaving:

Akeem Ayers LB: 68 TKLS, 10 TFL, 2 FF, 2 INTS

First team All-Pac 10 2010

Projects to get picked early-mid first round.

Rahim Moore SS: 77 TKLS, 3 TFL, 1 INT

First team All-Pac 10 2010

Projects to get picked early-mid second round.

Impact on UCLA: Substantial. There are still plenty of returning starters coming back on the Bruins' defense—eight—but Moore and Ayers were the cornerstones of the D, and the two best players.

Good News: As I said, there are still eight other returning starters. Moreover, due to injuries last year, sophomore Jordan Zumwalt should be ready to step into a starting role at linebacker.

Wisconsin Badgers

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MADISON, WI - OCTOBER 16: J.J. Watt #99 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates a sack against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 16, 2010 in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 31-18. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Imag

Players Lost: 

J.J. Watt DE: 61 TKLS, 20.5 TFL, 7 SKS, 3 FF, 1 INT, 7 PD

First team-All Big Ten 2010

Projects to get picked high-mid first round.

John Clay RB: 187 ATT, 1,012 YDS, 5.41 YPC, 14 TD, 1 REC, 9 TDS

Second team-All Big Ten 2010, First team-All Big Ten 2009, Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year 2009

Projects to get picked late, if at all.

Impact on Wisconsin: The loss of Clay is minimal. The loss of Watt is huge.

Before Watt declared, UW projected to have one of the three best defenses in the Big Ten. Without him, they are middle-of-the-pack.

Moreover, with the substantial losses the Badger offense will have to overcome, the defense needed to be the strength of the team.

Good News: Wisconsin has plenty of running backs. In fact, Clay seemed to play a third-string role in UW's Rose Bowl appearance.

In my opinion, that was a poor strategy, but it does go to show the confidence Bret Bielema has in returning running backs James White and Montee Ball.

Clemson Tigers

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AUBURN, AL - SEPTEMBER 18: Da'Quan Bowers #93 of the Clemson Tigers against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on September 18, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Players Leaving:

Da'Quan Bowers DE: 66 TKLS, 25 TFL, 15 SKS, 2 FF, 1 INT

2010 Consensus All-American

Projects to get picked top five-early first round.

Jamie Harper RB: 197 ATT, 761 YDS, 3.86 YPC, 7 TDS, 37 REC, 320 YDS, 8.65 YPC, 3 TDS

No notable awards

Projects to get picked late if at all.

Kyle Parker QB: 341 ATT, 196 COMP, 57.5 PCT, 2,214 YDS, 12:11 TD:INT, 117.18 RAT, 30 Rushing ATT, 45 YDS

No notable awards

Parker is leaving to pursue a professional baseball career.

Impact on Clemson: The loss of Harper is minimal at best. The loss of Parker is certainly notable, but might not be as huge as one would think.

The loss of Bowers is huge. With him, Clemson might have had the best defense in the ACC. Without him, highly doubtful.

Good News: Harper probably wasn't even going to be the starter. For the most part, his loss will be a loss of running back depth, more than anything.  

Parker didn't really develop into a great quarterback. Of course, with two years of eligibility remaining, who knows how his career might have gone. Nevertheless, it's not as though the Tigers lost an All-ACC signal caller.

Missouri Tigers

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TEMPE, AZ - DECEMBER 28: Quarterback Blaine Gabbert #11 of the Missouri Tigers drops back to pass during the Insight Bowl against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Sun Devil Stadium on December 28, 2010 in Tempe, Arizona. The Hawkeyes defeated the Tigers 27-24. (P

Players Lost:

Blaine Gabbert QB: 475 ATT, 301 COMP, 63.4 PCT, 3,186 YDS, 16:9 TD:INT, 127.03 RAT, 112 Rushing ATT, 232 Yds, 2.07 YPC, 5 TD

Honorable Mention All-Big 12 2010

Projects to get picked early first round.

Aldon Smith DE: 48 TKLS, 10 TFL, 4.5 SKS, 1 FF, 1 INT

Second Team All-Big 12 2010

Projects to get picked mid-late first round.

Impact on Missouri: Substantial. Mizzou projected to be one of the top 10 teams in the country next season. They returned 10 on O and seven on D. That was before Gabbert and Smith declared.

Now, Smith's departure will allow opponents to focus a good deal more attention on the other defensive end, Jacquies Smith.

Meanwhile, Gabbert probably would have been on a short list of Heisman candidates for next season.

With Smith and especially Gabbert gone, Missouri is probably more realistically looking at a top 25 ranking.

Good News: All-American tight end Michael Egnew will be returning for his senior season.

Also, Missouri rotated a number of players on the defensive line, so there is experience returning at the defensive end position.

Finally, Missouri has recruited well at the quarterback position. Though there is no experience, there is a good deal of talent.

The starting job should be a tight race between sophomore James Franklin and Blaine Gabbert's brother, redshirt freshman Tyler.

Georgia Bulldogs

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AUBURN, AL - NOVEMBER 13: A.J. Green #8 of the Georgia Bulldogs against the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium on November 13, 2010 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Players Leaving: 

A.J. Green WR: (played nine games) 57 REC, 848 YDS, 14.88 YPC, 9 TD

First team All-SEC 2008 and 2009

Projects to get picked top five-early first round

Justin Houston OLB: 67 TKLS, 19.5 TFL, 11 SKS, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 INT

First team All-SEC 2010

Projects to get picked mid-late first round

Impact on Georgia: The Bulldogs average points per game when Green was not playing: 24.25. Their average points per game when Green was on the field: 35.55.

Obviously, these numbers weren't accumulated in a bubble, so there were possibly extenuating circumstances. However, I think they speak volumes.

Meanwhile, the defense took a considerable hit when Houston declared. His absence probably won't be as substantial as Green's, but it will be evident.

Good News: Not much, except to note that Tavarres King showed flashes at receiver. He is not the physical presence that Green was, but he can be a play maker.

Illinois Fighting Illini

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 20: Mikel Leshoure #5 of the Illinois Fighting Illini runs on his way to a 339 yard rushing performance against the Northwestern Wildcats during a game played at Wrigley Field on November 20, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois defeated

Players Lost:

Mikel Leshoure RB: 282 ATT, 1,706 YDS, 6.05 YPC, 17 TD, 17 REC, 196 YDS, 11.53 YPC, 3 TD

First team All-Big Ten 2010

Projects to get picked late first-early second round.

Martez Wilson MLB: 112 TKLS, 11.5 TFL, 4 SKS, 3 FF

First team All-Big Ten 2010

Projects to get picked early-mid second round.

Corey Liuget DT: 63 TKLS, 12.5 TFL, 4.5 SKS

Second team All-Big Ten 2010

Projects to get picked mid first-mid second round.

Impact on Illinois: Huge. In a span of 48 hours, the Illini lost their three best returning players.

Before these three declared, at least one idiot picked them to beat out Ohio State in the Big Ten's Eastern Division. Not anymore.

Now, I'd be inclined to say the Illini might have a ceiling of eight wins next season, and much of the reason for that is due to a soft in-conference schedule.

Good News: There is none, though junior Jason Ford is experienced and should step right into the starting tailback position. However, he is nowhere near the talent that Leshoure is.

Auburn Tigers

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Quarterback Cameron Newton #2 of the Auburn Tigers celebrates the Tigers 22-19 victory against the Oregon Ducks in the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game at University of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2011 in Glendale, Ar

Players Leaving: 

Cam Newton QB: 280 ATT, 185 COMP, 66.1 PCT, 30:7 TD:INT, 182.05 RAT, 264 Rushing ATT, 1,473 YDS, 5.58 YPC, 20 TD

First team All-SEC 2010, Consensus All-American, Heisman Award Winner

Projects to get picked early-mid first round.

Nick Fairley DT: 60 TKLS, 24 TFL, 11.5 SKS, 2 FF, 1 INT

First team All-SEC 2010, Consensus All-American

Projects to get picked top five in draft.

Darvin Adams WR: 52 REC, 963 YDS, 18.52 YPC, 7 TDS

No notable awards

Projects to get picked late.

Impact on Auburn: Huge. As it was, the defending national champions were losing five on O and six on D. Couple that with the competition level in the SEC, and the fact that SEC West rivals, Alabama and LSU will be making serious runs at the national title this season.

Still, Auburn had a chance as long as Fairley and especially Newton were returning. Without them, eight wins might be a reach.

Good News: There is none, other than the fact that most scouting services feel that Auburn has recruited very well under Gene Chizik.