Florida, Georgia Tech hardest hit by early defections to NFL Draft
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Florida defensive back Joe Haden is one of five Florida Gators to declare early for the NFL Draft. (Photo by Tomasso DeRosa)
By Ben Cook, Lindyssports.com
Last Friday was the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NFL Draft. A total of 56 players filed for early entry, most of whom were expected to do so. Fears that an impending labor strike that could disrupt the 2011 season would cause more than the usual number of players to file proved to be unfounded.
Of the underclassmen and seniors with eligibility left who declared themselves eligible for the draft, most were expected to go early; most of the players who were expected to return to college did so, with a few notable exceptions.
For instance, Houston’s prolific passer Case Keenum has decided to return to the Cougars despite throwing for 5,671 yards and 44 touchdowns as a junior. A repeat performance would give him the NCAA records in both categories.
Another quarterback who plans to go it again is Washington’s Jake Locker, who many thought would be at least the No. 3 quarterback taken if not the first. Locker threw for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.
Also returning for another season is the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, Wisconsin running back John Clay. Clay, who rushed for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns, was actually a redshirt sophomore who would have been eligible for the draft if he had declared because his had spent three years in college.
The nation’s sack leader, Texas A&M defensive end Von Miller, is returning to the Aggies after racking up 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.
In all, Florida was the hardest hit. The Gators had five players with eligibility remaining cast their helmets into the draft pool. Georgia Tech lost four players early while USC and Oklahoma lost three each.
Here is an alphabetical list of the players who declared for the Draft:
Name, School, Position
Toney Baker, NC State, RB
Kevin Basped, Nevada, DE
Another quarterback who plans to go it again is Washington’s Jake Locker, who many thought would be at least the No. 3 quarterback taken if not the first. Locker threw for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.
Also returning for another season is the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year, Wisconsin running back John Clay. Clay, who rushed for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns, was actually a redshirt sophomore who would have been eligible for the draft if he had declared because his had spent three years in college.
The nation’s sack leader, Texas A&M defensive end Von Miller, is returning to the Aggies after racking up 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss.
In all, Florida was the hardest hit. The Gators had five players with eligibility remaining cast their helmets into the draft pool. Georgia Tech lost four players early while USC and Oklahoma lost three each.
Here is an alphabetical list of the players who declared for the Draft:
Name, School, Position
Toney Baker, NC State, RB
Kevin Basped, Nevada, DE
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa, OL
Arrelious Benn, Illinois, WR
Eric Berry, Tennessee, S
Jahvid Best, California, RB
Navarro Bowman, Penn State, LB
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas, WR
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan, WR
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, WR
Arrelious Benn, Illinois, WR
Eric Berry, Tennessee, S
Jahvid Best, California, RB
Navarro Bowman, Penn State, LB
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, QB
Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas, WR
Antonio Brown, Central Michigan, WR
Dez Bryant, Oklahoma State, WR
Bryan Bulaga, Iowa, T
Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech, S
Bruce Campbell, Maryland, OT
Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame, QB.
Rennie Curran, Georgia, LB
Anthony Davis, Rutgers, OT
Carlos Dunlap, Florida, DE
Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech, RB
Dominique Franks, Oklahoma, CB
Clifton Geathers, South Carolina, DE
Bruce Campbell, Maryland, OT
Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame, QB.
Rennie Curran, Georgia, LB
Anthony Davis, Rutgers, OT
Carlos Dunlap, Florida, DE
Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech, RB
Dominique Franks, Oklahoma, CB
Clifton Geathers, South Carolina, DE
Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State, DE
Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, TE
Jermaine Gresham, Oklahoma, TE
Everson Griffin, USC, DE
Rob Gronkowski, Arizona, TE
Joe Haden, Florida, CB
Aaron Hernandez, Florida, TE
Kareem Jackson, Alabama, CB
Chad Jones, Georgia, DB
Rob Gronkowski, Arizona, TE
Joe Haden, Florida, CB
Aaron Hernandez, Florida, TE
Kareem Jackson, Alabama, CB
Chad Jones, Georgia, DB
Reshad Jones, Georgia, S
Linval Joseph, East Carolina, DT
Linval Joseph, East Carolina, DT
Darius Marshall, Marshall, RB
Ryan Mathews, Fresno State, RB
Rolando McClain, Alabama, LB
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, DT
Joe McKnight, USC, RB
Shawnbrey McNeal, SMU, RB
Rolando McClain, Alabama, LB
Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma, DT
Joe McKnight, USC, RB
Shawnbrey McNeal, SMU, RB
Carlton Mitchell, USF, WR
Josua Moore, Kansas State, DB
Derrick Morgan, Georgia Tech, DE
Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida, DE
Jerell Norton, Arkansas, DB
Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida, DE
Jerell Norton, Arkansas, DB
Maurkice Pouncey, Florida, C
Brian Price, UCLA, DT
Dennis Rogan, Tennessee, DB
Brian Price, UCLA, DT
Dennis Rogan, Tennessee, DB
Jevan Snead, Ole Miss, QB
Blaze Soares, Hawaii, LB
Amari Spievey, Iowa, CB
Golden Tate, Notre Dame, WR
Blaze Soares, Hawaii, LB
Amari Spievey, Iowa, CB
Golden Tate, Notre Dame, WR
Earl Thomas, Texas, DB
Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech, WR
Donovan Warren, Michigan, CB
Donovan Warren, Michigan, CB
Damian Williams, USC, WR
Mike Williams, Syracuse, WR
Mike Williams, Syracuse, WR
Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech, DE
Major Wright, Florida, S
Major Wright, Florida, S
