Once the regular season in college football ends, we are on constant alert for NFL draft announcements.
Some players do not reveal their future plans immediately. Alternatively, they may wait for the conclusion of a bowl game — or, more specifically, a College Football Playoff — before announcing a decision to stay or leave.
Right now, the list of underclassmen entering the 2024 NFL Draft is fairly short. Wisconsin running back Braylon Allen, Penn State edge rusher Chubb Robinson, Illinois defensive tackle Jerzan Newton and Miami safeties Camryn Kinchens and James Williams are among the most recognizable names in the NFL.
But there will be dozens more announcements on the way.
All of the players highlighted, as of today, have a reasonable chance of being selected in the first or second round.
If you’ve followed coverage of the 2024 draft at all, you’re probably pretty familiar with it Caleb Williams And Drake May.
Williams, a talented dual-threat player, won the Heisman Trophy last season. He’s firmly established as the presumptive No. 1 overall pick, even as USC seeks a disappointing 7-5 record in 2023.
Maye did not attract the same level of hype as Williams, yet North Carolina State’s star signal caller was generally mentioned as a high-end talent. Also a mobile quarterback, May posted back-to-back seasons with over 4,000 offensive yards, including 400-plus rushing yards.
Two other QBs to know are Michigan J. J. McCarthy “And Texas” Quinn Ewers. Both are scheduled to appear in the College Football Playoff, where strong performances could boost their controversial first-round projections.
As always, be prepared for a slew of underclassmen receivers entering the draft. In this cycle, it’s Ohio State Marvin Harrison Jr She is the undisputed prize in this position.
Behind him, there is a wide range of potential players. LSU Malik NabarsFlorida State Keon Coleman And Washington Roma Udonze They are highly respected prospects, while Ohio State Emeka EgbukaLSU Brian Thomas Jr And the Texas duo Xavier deserves it And M. Mitchell She is definitely in early round consideration.
For good measure, keep an eye on FSU Johnny WilsonOregon Troy Franklin And Washington Yes, Lynn Polkalso.
Georgia tight end Brooke Powers, like Harrison, is the clear top prospect for his spot on the pitch. Texas is special I’m Tavion Sanderswhile he may not be a first-round pick, he is an obvious second-day pick.
Neither running back qualifies as an elite prospect, but Ohio State does Trevion Henderson And Clemson Will Shipley Versatile Day 2 talent.
Are you a highly rated offensive lineman? Congratulations, well done! Maybe you are an actual student or in your fourth year.
Notre Dame Alternative atmosphere It highlights third-year players, along with several other tackles who earned 5-star reviews as high school seniors. This group includes the Alabama group J.C. Latham,Georgia Adarius Mims And BYU Kingsley Swamatya.
In the fourth-year crowd, Penn State This is Fashanu It is the main title. Duke processing Graham Barton He is listed as a senior, although he officially has one year of eligibility remaining. The same goes for three redshirt juniors: Oregon State He laughedWest Virginia Center Zach Frazier and oklahoma tackle Tyler Guyton.
However, since B/R’s NFL scouting department ranks all nine of these players as top 50 prospects heading to the pros, it makes sense.
The most notable departures, so far, are defensive linemen. Illinois tackle Jerzan Newton, Penn State edge rusher Chubb Robinson and Miami tackle Leonard Taylor are among the top 20 prospects.
However, there are some other major decisions on the horizon as well.
Edge of Alabama Dallas Turner He is a potential top-10 pick and Ohio State edge GT Tuimulu He has first-round talent. Tuimolo’s teammate, Jack Sawyerand he’s a fringe first-day candidate as well.
Washington Praline tres He’s a fifth-year player, so calling him an underclassman is a bit misleading. Still, technically a beginner.
The return of Clemson’s Barrett Carter takes down one of the best linebackers in his class. As a result, the attention is squarely on his teammate: Jeremiah Trotter Jrthe son of a retired NFL player.
After him, the only B/R booster to rank in the top 100 is Georgia Jamon Dumas Johnson At 92nd, so, a borderline Day 3 pick.
High school is a different story.
Alabama Kool-Aid McKinstry And Tyrion ArnoldClemson Nate Wiggins,Georgia Kamari Lassiteryeah Cooper DegenOhio State Denzel Burke And the state of Pennsylvania Calin King They should all be corner threes. wisconsin Ricardo Hallman He is also a candidate.
At Aman, University of Southern California Kalin Bullock,Georgia Javon PollardClemson Andrew Mukuba And Michigan Rod Moore Figure to join Miami’s Camryn Kinchens and James Williams as early departures.
As the college football season comes to a close, many talented prospects are faced with the decision of whether to declare for the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. These players have put in years of hard work and dedication to reach this point in their careers, and now must weigh the potential rewards of entering the professional ranks against the risks of forgoing another year of collegiate experience. With a deep pool of talented individuals in this year’s draft class, there are several players who stand out as potential stars at the next level, making the decision to declare for the draft a particularly tough one.