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Juniors should boost draft’s quality even more than usual
By PFW staff
Jan. 21, 2008
The underclassmen factor has become a key element of every NFL draft for some time now, and with scouts around the league telling us this year’s senior class could be one of the weakest in recent memory, the impact provided by the 53 players who were granted special eligibility for the 2008 draft will be more significant than ever.
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The list by position
Underclassmen who have been granted special eligibility for 2008 draft (as of Jan. 20)
Quarterback
Xavier Lee, Florida State.
Running backs
Jamaal Charles, Texas; Felix Jones, Arkansas; Darren McFadden, Arkansas; Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois; Ray Rice, Rutgers; Steve Slaton, West Virginia; Kevin Smith, Central Florida; Jonathan Stewart, Oregon.
Tight ends
Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M; Jermichael Finley, Texas.
Wide receivers
Adrian Arrington, Michigan; Earl Bennett, Vanderbilt; Davone Bess, Hawaii; Ryan Grice-Mullen, Hawaii; James Hardy, Indiana; DeSean Jackson, California; Malcolm Kelly, Oklahoma; Selwyn Lymon, Purdue; Mario Manningham, Michigan; Sean Penix, Arkansas; Darius Reynaud, West Virginia; Devin Thomas, Michigan State; Mario Urrutia, Louisville.
Offensive linemen
OG Branden Albert, Virginia, OG L.J. Anderson, Central Florida; OLT Ryan Clady, Boise State; OT Anthony Collins, Kansas; OLT Franklin Dunbar, Middle Tennessee State; OG Chilo Rachal, USC.
Defensive linemen
DE Calais Campbell, Miami (Fla.); DE Johnny Dingle, West Virginia; DE Jeremy Geathers, UNLV; DE Vernon Gholston, Ohio State; DT Letroy Guion, Florida State; DE Derrick Harvey, Florida; DE Phillip Merling, Clemson; DT Pat Sims, Auburn.
Linebackers
WLB Geno Hayes, Florida State; WLB Erin Henderson, Maryland; MLB Josh Johnson, Marshall; MLB Curtis Lofton, Oklahoma; MLB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee; MLB Lamar Myles, Louisville.
Safeties
S Demario Bobo, Mississippi; FS DaJuan Morgan, North Carolina State; FS Kenny Phillips, Miami (Fla.).
Cornerbacks
Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech; Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin; Justin King, Penn State; Orlando Scandrick, Boise State; Reggie Smith, Oklahoma; Aqib Talib, Kansas State.
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“Half of the first two rounds will be underclassmen,” a veteran NFL talent evaluator told PFW. “With how weak this year’s senior class is, I think you’ll see even more (juniors) than normal this year.”
In Pro Football Weekly draft expert Nolan Nawrocki’s 2008 mock draft, 14 of the 31 first-round picks are underclassmen, led by Arkansas RB Darren McFadden, who heads a stellar cast of first-round-caliber running backs that also includes Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart, Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall and Arkansas teammate Felix Jones.
The WR, TE and OT positions also appear to have been given a big boost, but the impact at the QB position and on the other side of the ball appears to be relatively minimal.
What follows is a quick skinny on PFW’s top 15 draft-eligible underclassmen:
• Arkansas RB Darren McFadden — A versatile slasher with big-time speed who carved up the Southeastern Conference for three years.
• Ohio State DE Vernon Gholston — An incredibly gifted physical specimen who projects to 3-4 rush linebacker in the pros.
• Boise State OLT Ryan Clady — The most natural left tackle in the draft with terrific athleticism and natural bend for a 300-plus-pounder.
• Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart — A very compact, powerful runner with deceptive speed.
• Michigan WR Mario Manningham — A big-time playmaker in the mold of Chad Johnson.
• Florida DE Derrick Harvey — A natural edge rusher with more upside and a better work ethic than Jarvis Moss.
• Clemson DE Phillip Merling — A strong, versatile left defensive end with a nonstop motor who could project inside in a 4-3 scheme or anywhere on a 3-4 front.
• California WR DeSean Jackson — Has big-time speed and electric return ability, but he is injury-prone.
• Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall — A powerful runner who proved to be a bell-cow in the Illini’s Rose Bowl run.
• Oklahoma WR Malcolm Kelly — An excellent-sized receiver who catches everything thrown his way.
• Virginia OG-OT Branden Albert — Very naturally athletic, versatile lineman who started two games at left tackle and could project there in the pros.
• Oklahoma MLB Curtis Lofton — A thickly built, stout inside plugger. He may be a fit in the first round from a very weak LB class.
• Arkansas RB Felix Jones — A dynamic returner and space player.
• Michigan State WR Devin Thomas — A big-time playmaker with strong run skills and kickoff-return ability.
• Wisconsin CB Jack Ikegwuonu — Stood out more early in his career than in his injured junior season, but he has shown great burst and ball skills when healthy.
Worth noting: The following quality players all decided to rescind their names after initially declaring for the draft — Florida TE Cornelius Ingram, Mississippi OLT Michael Oher, Clemson RB James Davis and Oregon S Patrick Chung.
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