By Scott Anderson
After the 2014 draft, the NFL had a problem. 42 of the underclassmen that declared from the draft were not selected. The NFL took immediate action and changed the grading system for those considering the early jump from college. The old system tried to predict the exact round that the player would go it, resulting in players being told they would be going in the third round and not being drafted. However, the new grading system is only three categories, down from five, and each player has a first round, second round, or neither draft grade. The hope was that it would minimize the number of players that were giving up their education and leaving for the NFL.
The plan seemed to work in it’s first year as 74 players were granted the special eligibility for the draft, to go along with the 10 that were underclassmen but have graduated. Those 10 do not count in the official underclassmen list because of their graduation. The 74 players are a 24.5% decrease from the previous year and is the first drop in number since 2009.
13 running backs, led by Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon, Jay Ajayi from Boise State, Buck Allen from USC, and Duke Johnson from Miami declared early, hoping to avoid the serious injuries suffered by Marcus Lattimore and fellow early entrant Todd Gurley. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota were joined by UCLA’s Brett Hundley as the only three quarterbacks that passed up their remaining elgibility.
In 2014, half of the first rounders that were selected were underclassmen, including number one overall selection Jadeveon Clowney. From 2009-2012, each number one overall pick was an underclassmen and with the expected pick by Tampa Bay to be either Winston or Mariota it could be 6 of the last 7 number one picks being early entrants.
Other notable players declaring for the draft were Alabama’s Landon Collins (DB), Amari Cooper (WR), and TJ Yeldon (RB). Florida State’s PJ Williams (DB), Ronald Darby (DB), Mario Edwards (DE), Eddie Goldman (DT). USC’s Leonard Williams (DE), and Nebraska’s Randy Gregory (DE).
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