15 College Football Underclassmen Who Should Leave for the 2012 NFL Draft

As the college football season begins to come to a close, the biggest question on the minds of many fans is whether or not some of the best players will declare for the NFL draft.

Some players definitely need to return for their senior season while others need to make the no-brainer decision of moving on to bigger and better things.

Here are 15 of the players who would be wise to head out after this season

Matt Kalil, OT, USC

Kalil is one of the best offensive tackle prospects in a long time, and no one has him dropping out of the Top 5 overall. USC has the potential to be amazingly good if Matt Barkley returns, but offensive tackles are much more prone to injury.

He shouldn’t risk anything.

Morris Claiborne, DB, LSU

Claiborne has become the consensus top cornerback in the draft, and given LSU’s depth in the secondary, there should be no reason for him to stick around.

It frankly wouldn’t be fair to all of the qualified underclassmen on the Tigers roster.

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

He has become an Oklahoma State legend, but his time in Stillwater is over.

He can’t prove anything else, and QB Brandon Weeden doesn’t have any eligibility left after this year.

Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford

Andrew Luck could've entered the 2011 NFL Draft and likely would have been the No. 1 overall pick then. He decided to return to Stanford, finish up his degree and take another shot at a National Championship. 

Luck has his degree, but fell short of his championship aspirations. Nevertheless, he can't possibly pass up being the No. 1 pick two years in a row, can he?

Most sources believe he's already made up his mind to enter the draft and with the Colts lining up to take him with the top pick, the situation is perfect. 

Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama and Company

Like Stanford, there is no way Alabama will win the national championship given all the talent that will be leaving. Richardson has nothing to prove and the defense loses a lot of talent to graduation.

Dre Kirkpatrick, Dont’a Hightower, Robert Lester, Nico Johnson and Barrett Jones all need to get going while the going is hot.

Next season, Alabama won't be in as good a position as it is now and with the high draft grades all of these guys have why risk it, the Tide is hot right now and that should carry over to April. 

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Kuechly now holds the all-time Boston College record for tackles and a mid-first round grade is as high as he will get with his undersized frame.

His team has no hope for next year, either and there's no reason to risk injury when your draft stock is already at it's peak.

Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona State

Burfict’s stock has taken a hit this season with his drop off in production. With Dennis Erickson gone as coach, he needs to get out before his production drops any further.

Right now he's a first round pick, but on his current course he could end up slipping way down the board with another below-average season. 

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

Griffin has been sensational this year and it has earned him a first-round grade by many analysts.

With his best receivers going he needs to go out on a high note and not wait around.

There's not much for him at Baylor besides the outside shot of a Heisman, but awards aren't going to raise his draft stock any higher. 

Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa

Any junior lineman with a first-round grade should go because of their propensity to injury.

Reiff is a top 20 guy and Iowa doesn’t figure to be that great next year, either.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State

Worthy has not had a great statistical season, but his frame and bursts of excellence have kept him in the first round.

With the kind of money that's waiting for him at the next level, its tough to see him staying for another year with the Spartans not expected to be good. 

Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin

Everyone is talking about Konz because he is one of the only junior centers who appears ready for the NFL.

Without Russell Wilson behind him, the Badgers won’t be competing for any championships, so there is absolutely no reason for him to stay.

He could well be the top center selected on draft day. 

Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois

When you have as dominating a season as Mercilus has had, you need to take your money and run.

He leads the nation in sacks and Ron Zook just got fired. This is a no-brainer.

Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis

Any time you’re on a team as bad as Memphis and are considered a first-round draft pick, your stock is not going to go much higher.

Plus, the school just fired the coach.

He needs to go.

Brandon Jenkins, DE, Florida State

His best season is already behind him and he is still one of the best players on a ridiculously talented Florida State defense.

With all of the talent that is coming into Tallahassee, he should head on to the NFL and let the next batch of guys shine for the Seminoles. 

Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson

Right now Dwayne Allen is in position to sneak into the first round, and might even go higher than that with a good combine.

Allen is the best prospect at TE, but that could change by next year if Georgia's Orson Charles is in the picture. 

Typically you don't see too many tight ends in the first round, so Allen needs to do the smart thing and go while the timing is right.