College Football 2011: 15 Teams That Will Drop Off Due to Losing Marquee Players

During every offseason, college football goes through an annual purging of talent, either through graduation of players leaving early for the NFL.

While the same thing is happening in 2011, it seems to be happening on a much grander scale.  A record number of college players—56, to be exact—have applied for "special eligibility" in the NFL, simply meaning they've declared their eligibility for the NFL draft.

That bests the previous record of 53 last year.

It seems that this new crop of young football talent isn't fazed by the lack of a new CBA between the NFL and its players' union.

But which college teams will suffer the greatest from this year's exodus?

Ole Miss

Jesse Grandy, Dele Junaid, Jared Mitchell, Martez Eastland, Terrance Hackney, Lekenwick Haynes, and Alan-Michael Thomas are all leaving.  It's important to note that these are in addition to the players graduating.  All of the players listed here are transferring.

While each has their own seemingly valid reasons for leaving, it does leave Ole Miss a bit depleted.  All of the players mentioned were scholarship players at Ole Miss.

The Rebels' roster has been sufficiently filled in, but expect to see a number of younger players stepping into roles traditionally reserved for upperclassmen.

UCLA

Linebacker Akeem Ayers had 68 tackles in 2011, including 10 TFLs, two INTs, and two FFs.  He's looking at a first-round selection by an NFL team in 2011.  Fellow defensive star at UCLA, Rahim Moore added 77 tackles (with three TFLs) and an interception in 2010.  He's a potential second or third round pick.

Replacing one of these guys would be difficult enough.  The Bruins will struggle to compensate for this loss of defensive output in 2011.

Stanford

The biggest offseason roster news for Stanford was who they weren't losing: Andrew Luck.  To the utter delight and giddy excitement of every Stanford fan in the world, Luck will return to lead the Cardinal during his senior season.

That being said, Stanford returns just five (including Luck) starters on offense (including most of the line), and only six starters on defense.

One balance, Stanford will be an inexperienced team in 2011.  Good thing they'll have the quintessential leader in Andrew Luck calling the plays.

Oh yeah.  Stanford also lost a pretty darned good head coach, too.

Clemson

All-American defensive end Da'Quan Bowers is leaving the Tigers for the pros—a Tiger team that was tantalizingly close to defeating eventual BCS champ Auburn early on in 2010.

Clemson also loses QB Kyle Parker and RB Jamie Harper.  That's a big chunk of the Tigers' offensive production that will need to be replaced for 2011.

Southern California

It's actually a little surprising that only two players from USC are opting out early.

DT Jurrell Casey and OT Tyron Smith are leaving the Trojans early, and why not?  Next season looks to provide little more hope for the maligned program as their suspension from the post-season continues.

While USC may improve over its lackluster 2010 performance, there's not a whole lot of light at the end of the tunnel for the Trojans entering their final year at USC.  Better to move on to hopefully better things.

Fear not, Trojan faithful.  USC is one of those programs you just can't keep down for very long.  While there may not be a Rose Bowl on the horizon, it's likely USC will be back in true Trojan form within a few short seasons (once the probation ends, that is).

Wisconsin

The Big Ten co-champions in 2010 will have two big sets of pads to fill come the fall.

First Team All-Big Ten DE J.J. Watt will be selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.  Watt was a big, fast, and powerful end for the Badgers in 2010, contributing 61 tackles, a very impressive mark of 20.5 TFLs, seven sacks, three FFs, seven pass deflections, and even one interception.

On the other side of the ball, John Clay will need to be replaced on a Wisconsin team that looked like a traditional Big Ten team of yesteryear: big, strong, and running it right down your throat all afternoon.

Clay had over 1,000 yards and averaged 5.4 yards per carry and accounted for 14 Badger touchdowns.

Washington

It had to end some day.  Jake Locker, the kid who seemingly put the entire Husky world on his shoulders and willed the team to unlikely victory after unlikely victory has graduated.

With the possible exception of Cam Newton, there isn't a single player loss that affects an entire team in the way Locker's graduation from Washington does.

Jake Locker was Washington football.  It's now up to those remaining to try to build on what Locker restored at Washington.

Louisiana State

The Tigers will have to do without Patrick Peterson in 2011, another All-American junior leaving for the pros.

With the number of "oh, so close" wins that LSU had last season, will a big defensive loss push them from winning the close ones to losing?

Now add in the fact that LSU is also losing 4.6 yards per carry as Steven Riley takes his 1,147 yards to the NFL.

Georgia

Georgia certainly started 2010 with a whimper.  If 2011 is going to be different, Coach Richt will need to find a quality replacement for standout wide receiver A.J. Green.  Green played just nine games in 2010, but still accounted for 848 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Bulldogs also lose OLB Justin Houston and his 19.5 TFLs from 2010.  Houston also had 11 sacks, two FFs, a fumble recovery, and an interception in his First Team All-SEC 2010 season.

Utah

As 2010 progressed, it seemed that Utah was no really the team that was advertised.  While the Utes had a decent season, 2011 will be made a tad more difficult with the loss of corner Brandon Burton and defensive tackle Sealver Siliga.  Those two combined for 92 tackles, five TFLs, 1.5 sacks, and three turnovers.

Missouri

The two obvious big losses for Missouri heading into 2011 are QB Blane Gabbert and DE Aldon Smith.

Gabbert had nearly 3,200 yards passing in 2010, and a 127.0 QB rating.  Smith was a Second Team All-Big 12 selection last year.  Both players will probably be first or second round draft picks, and Missouri will lose their biggest names on either side of the ball.

Alabama

The Tide weren't quite able to replicate 2009, but were still a darned good football team in 2010.

In 2011, there are a few more question marks as Mark Ingram and Marcell Dareus.

It's never easy to lose a former Heisman winner (even if his stock dropped a bit after 2010), and Dareus' absence on defense will undoubtedly be felt.

Illinois

The Illini are losing three All-Conference players in RB Mikel Leshoure, DT Corey Liuget, and MLB Martez Wilson.

Wilson had 112 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, and four sacks in 2010.  He also forced three fumbles, and was honored as a First Team All-Big Ten selection.

Leshoure, also a First Team All-Big Ten player, had over 1,700 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns averaging just over six yards-per-carry in 2010.

Liuget was a Second Team All-Big Ten honoree in 2010 with 63 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 12.5 TFLs in 2010.

If you just take into account the defensive losses, that's 175 tackles, 24 TFLs, and 8.5 sacks.

Pittsburgh

Pitt's offseason thus far could probably be best described by "hot mess."

If the coaching turmoil wasn't enough to make players opt for an early exit, I'm not quite sure if much else would.

For 2011, early departures for Pitt include Jonathan Baldwin, Henry Hynosko, and (most importantly) Dion Lewis.  That's a decent chunk of Pittsburgh's offensive production right there, with the three accounting for over 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Add in the graduation losses...

Auburn

It's no surprise that the defending BCS champion may suffer a drop in stock with Heisman-winner Cam Newton and All-American Nick Fairley jumping ship for the NFL.

As previously mentioned, Cam Newton is (with the possible exception of Washington's Jake Locker) the single player lost which affects his team the greatest.

After all, Newton's 2010 performance was absolutely otherworldly.