103 underclassmen declare for 2019 NFL draft
We now know who is officially heading to the NFL early. The NFL released its official list of underclassmen declaring for the 2019 NFL draft on Friday. The list includes 103 players who declared early and 32 players with eligibility remaining who have received their degrees.
With the declaration deadline now behind us, it’s time to take a look at which teams benefitted from underclassmen making the decision to come back to school and those that are needing to replace a lot of key underclassmen contributors in 2019.
The 2019 NFL draft begins on April 25.
WINNERS
Oregon: Let’s start with the obvious one. The Ducks may ascend to favorite status within the Pac-12 in 2019 because of the return of QB Justin Herbert. The junior had a real chance to be a top-five pick in the 2019 draft and elected to return to Oregon for his senior season. The Ducks did lose WR Dillon Mitchell to the draft but he’s the only Duck who is heading to the NFL early. That means LB Troy Dye, the team’s leading tackler in 2018, is staying in school for another season.
Texas: QB Sam Ehlinger is back in 2019 and will have Collin Johnson to throw to. Johnson said he was returning for the 2019 season along with safety Brandon Jones. Johnson had 68 catches for 985 yards and seven scores, while Jones was the team’s fourth-leading tackler. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey was the team’s only early declaration for the draft, and while Texas loses some senior talent, there’s plenty left in Austin for a successful season.
Auburn: The Tigers lose leading tackler Deshaun Davis and his linebacking mate Darrell Williams. Defensive back Jamel Dean declared for the NFL, as well. But players like Marlon Davidson and Javaris Davis and Daniel Thomas are coming back in 2019. The defense should be very good again.
The offense needs to replace QB Jarrett Stidham and WR Darius Slayton. But those departures were expected and Stidham took a step back in 2019. With a new offensive coordinator in town for the upcoming season, Auburn’s offense could take a step forward no matter who the quarterback is.
LSU: Yeah, LB Devin White and CB Greedy Williams are heading to the NFL and will be first-round selections. Those are two big losses. But they were foregone conclusions. DT Ed Alexander is the only player who is heading to the NFL with them.
That means LB Michael Divinity, DL Rashard Lawrence and CB Kristian Fulton are back on a defense that also returns S Grant Delpit and LB Jacob Phillips. LSU’s defense is going to be scary in 2019. Add in some improvement from Joe Burrow in his second and final season at QB for the Tigers and from WR Justin Jefferson and you have a preseason top-10 team.
Ohio State: QB Dwayne Haskins’ departure for the NFL paved the way for a transfer quarterback’s arrival. You know all about Justin Fields’ transfer to the Buckeyes by now but it wasn’t going to happen if Haskins stayed for another season in Columbus. Trading Haskins for Fields — even with the transfer of Tate Martell — is a transaction that every other college football team would love to have made.
Haskins is joined in the NFL draft declaration list by CB Kendall Sheffield, RB Mike Weber, DL Dre’Mont Jones, DE Nick Bosa and G Michael Jordan. That’s a lot of talent leaving early. But that happens pretty regularly. WR K.J. Hill is staying for another season and so are DBs Jordan Fuller and Damon Arnette. There’s still a ton of talent left at Ohio State.
LOSERS
Georgia: The Bulldogs were a young team in 2018 after a successful 2017 and the early draft declarations that came with it. Georgia’s going to be pretty young again in 2019. CB DeAndre Baker skipped the Sugar Bowl and could be a top-10 pick. His departure isn’t surprising.
The early-declaration losses may be felt more on the offensive side of the ball. QB Jake Fromm and RB D’Andre Swift return for their junior seasons. But RB Elijah Holyfield, TE Isaac Nauta, and WRs Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley are off to the NFL. Holyfield was Georgia’s second-leading rusher and Hardman, Nauta and Ridley were the team’s top three receivers.
Georgia has reeled in fantastic recruiting classes since Kirby Smart’s arrival. So there’s no reason to doubt that Georgia will have talented players ready to step in and play in 2019. But Georgia might not have expected such early contributions from their young receivers and rushers.
Penn State: The Nittany Lions need to replace a lot of offensive starters in 2019. QB Trace McSorley was a senior in 2018 so that was a foregone conclusion. DeAndre Thompkins was a senior last season as well. They aren’t the only guys leaving. Three offensive starters declared for the draft. RB Miles Sanders is going pro after one season succeeding Saquon Barkley. Two of his blockers, G Connor McGovern and T Ryan Bates, are joining him in the draft.
DE Shareef Miller (15 TFL) and DT Kevin Givens (10) are also heading to the NFL early. Penn State’s 2018 was disappointing for a lot of fans and challenging for the Big Ten East title in 2019 may be a big ask.
Iowa: The Hawkeyes lost four players to the NFL early, including two tight ends. TE Noah Fant and TE T.J. Hockenson are both going pro. Hockenson was the team’s second-leading receiver in 2018 with 49 catches for 760 yards and six scores. Fant was right behind him with 39 catches for 518 yards and seven touchdowns. Add in the fact that leading receiver Nick Easley was a senior in 2018 and QB Nathan Stanley will be building connections with new receivers in 2019.
DB Amani Hooker heads to the NFl after tying for the team lead with four interceptions and having the second-most tackles. DE Anthony Nelson is also going pro after a season where he had 9.5 sacks. At least A.J. Epenesa (10.5 sacks) is back for his junior season in 2019.
Oklahoma: Like Ohio State, the Sooners made a nice trade at quarterback. Days after Heisman-winner Kyler Murray declared for the NFL draft, Alabama QB Jalen Hurts announced he would play his senior season with the Sooners. But that’s not the only position that will look different on offense.
RB Rodney Anderson suffered a season-ending knee injury early in 2018 and is off to the NFL. So is WR Marquise Brown. With RB Kennedy Brooks and WR CeeDee Lamb back in 2019, those losses can be mitigated somewhat. It may be harder for Oklahoma to replace the two offensive linemen who declared early. The team needs to replace starting tackles Cody Ford and Bobby Evans. DE Amani Bledsoe also declared for the NFL.
Texas A&M: The Aggies’ first season with coach Jimbo Fisher was a nine-win success. There are going to be a lot of fresh faces in 2019. Especially on defense. Five of the team’s six leading tacklers were seniors. The only one who wasn’t was junior LB Tyrel Dodson. He was the team’s second-leading tackler. He’s going to the NFL.
On the offensive side of the ball, TE Jace Sternberger is going pro after a season where he had 832 receiving yards and caught 10 touchdowns. He and RB Trayveon Williams were the team’s two most dynamic playmakers. And, as you would imagine, Williams declared early for the NFL too. The junior running back had 1,760 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. Center Erik McCoy is heading to the NFL as well. A&M appears to be on the right track — the Aggies’ 2019 recruiting class is currently ranked fourth by Rivals. Hopefully for A&M fans a few of them can make contributions right away.
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Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports.
Follow @NickBromberg on Twitter
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