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2008 NFL Draft: Early Entries

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BigEasyTider

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Nov 27, 2007
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I figured that it might be a good idea to start a single thread that included links to all of the players that will be leaving college early and heading to the NFL Draft. We could update it with links for each player as it develops. Just link the player's name with an article showing he is leaving, and add a bit more information if you want.

I'll start it out...

Derrick Harvey, the Florida defensive end, has decided to turn pro. Harvey racked up 6.5 sacks for the Gators in the regular season this year, and added another two in the bowl game against Michigan. He said he submitted his paperwork and it came back projecting him as a first round pick, so he decided it was time for a change.

Cornelius Ingram, the do-it-all tight end for the Florida Gators, had decided to turn pro. He was a quarterback in high school, and did just about everything at Florida. He ended up with 34 catches for 508 yards and six touchdowns this year. He's an eye-popping athlete, and he expects a big day at the combine will get him huge bucks. He could legitimately play wide receiver, tight end, or H-back in the NFL.

Rashard Mendenhall, the Big Ten Player of the Year, has decided to turn pro. He rushed for almost 1,700 yards this year for Illinois and helped lead them to the Rose Bowl. He's a great runner with very good speed, and a good receiver out of the backfield. He'll probably be a late first round pick at worst.
 
Ingram was actually a wide receiver until last season (2006) and I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up back at WR in the pros.
 
To no one's surprise, James Hardy announced Friday he will skip his senior season at Indiana and enter the NFL draft. The question now is: When will the 6-7, 220-pound receiver from Fort Wayne Elmhurst be selected? ESPN's draft analysts list Hardy as the seventh-best receiver available but didn't predict whether he will go late in the first or early in the second round of the April draft.

Hawaii receiver Davone Bess is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft, the school said Friday. Bess, a three-year starter for the Warriors, is the school's career leader in receptions (293) and touchdowns (41). The Oakland, Calif., native made the decision after draft evaluators said he would be likely to be picked in the second round.

Michigan State junior wide receiver Devin Thomas, who ranked among the NCAA leaders in four major receiving and kickoff return categories this season, will forego his final season of college eligibility and enter the NFL draft, according to ESPN.com. The Web site claimed Thomas has filed the necessary paperwork with the league office, expects to be a first- or second-round pick and will make a formal announcement next week. In 13 games, Thomas had 79 receptions for 1,260 yards and eight touchdowns. He returned 39 kickoffs for 1,135 yards, a 29.1-yard average.

University of Texas junior running back Jamaal Charles will forego his senior season to enter the National Football League draft after leading the Big 12 Conference in rushing. Charles had 1,619 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns this season, joining Cedric Benson and Heisman Trophy winners Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell as the only Longhorns to rush for more than 1,500 yards in a season.

Texas A&M junior Martellus Bennett announced today that he is going to declare for the NFL Draft. The Alief Taylor grad finished his career tied atop the Aggies' all-time list for tight ends with 105 receptions for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns. Described as a "remarkable blocker" by NFLdraftscout.com, Bennett had 67 knockdown blocks during the regular season.

Bobby Reid came to Oklahoma State four years ago as a talented high school quarterback. Now, apparently, he is planning to leave the Cowboys football program. OSU coach Mike Gundy acknowledged Friday that Reid's turbulent Cowboy career appears to be over. Reid's mother, Rajika, told the Dallas Morning News that her son would not return to play for OSU in 2008. An OSU source indicated Friday that Reid intends to apply for the NFL Draft.

When the seniors on the Maryland football team lined up for the final wind sprint of their college careers at a practice before last week's Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, junior linebacker Erin Henderson was notable for his presence. Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen said later that it could have been taken as a sign of Henderson's intention to forgo his senior year. Yesterday, Henderson announced he would enter his name in this year's NFL draft, scheduled for April 26-27.

Virginia offensive guard Branden Albert will forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the NFL draft. The 23-year-old Albert, a six-foot-seven, 310-pound third-team all-American, started all 37 games that he played with the Cavaliers.

After a solid 2006, a nagging leg injury limited the production of Louisville wide receiver Mario Urrutia during the 2007 college season. According to Urrutia, that's what made him decide to declare for the NFL draft:
"Unfortunately, with missing time this season and playing injured I got to see football from a different perspective. You only have so much time to play this sport, and the 2008 draft is my opportunity."

Syracuse wide receiver Taj Smith has decided to pass up his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL draft, said coach Greg Robinson. Smith, a co-captain, averaged a team-best 18.7 yards per catch. He had 44 receptions for 822 yards and five touchdowns.

Miami Hurricanes defensive end Calais Campbell made it official Thursday by saying he will skip his senior season and enter the NFL Draft. A 6-foot-8, 240-pound junior, Campbell is projected as a first-round pick by many analysts. Despite a disappointing season, scouts are still impressed by his size and potential. After having 10 sacks as a sophomore, Campbell finished last year with six sacks, one interception and 50 tackles.

University of Miami safety Kenny Phillips was the first junior in 2007 to say publicly that he would skip his senior season to declare for the 2008 NFL draft. Most players, even the ones who have already decided they're turning pro, wait until late December or early January to announce their intentions. But Phillips has been saying for several weeks that he's ready for the NFL.

Scout.com has confirmed that Boise St. University OLT Ryan Clady has declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL draft. The projected top-10 selection signed Tuesday with JL Sports and will begin training this week in Martinsville New Jersey at TEST Sports.

James Banks has one season of college football eligibility remaining. But at 24, time is becoming an increasingly hostile opponent. The former Ben Davis High School All-American said Thursday he intends to enter the 2008 NFL draft after one season at Division II powerhouse Carson-Newman.Banks' college career began in 2002 with Tennessee. He spent two seasons there but was released after a succession of academic and disciplinary infractions. He sat out three seasons before playing for Carson-Newman.
 
BigEasyTider said:
Cornelius Ingram, the do-it-all tight end for the Florida Gators, had decided to turn pro. He was a quarterback in high school, and did just about everything at Florida. He ended up with 34 catches for 508 yards and six touchdowns this year. He's an eye-popping athlete, and he expects a big day at the combine will get him huge bucks. He could legitimately play wide receiver, tight end, or H-back in the NFL.
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Florida junior tight end Cornelius Ingram has not made a decision yet whether to return for his senior season or enter the NFL draft, his brother said Friday night.

"He's kind of torn," said Greg Bowie, Ingram's brother and the basketball coach at Hawthorne High School. "He's looking at all the options. He's going to take his time and then make his decision."

Yahoo.com reported Friday morning that Ingram had already made up his mind and was going to forego his senior season to enter the draft. The Web site even quoted Ingram, saying he felt it was just time to move on. But Bowie said Ingram had not talked to any media outlets and that he is still considering remaining at UF, where he is only seven credit hours short of his degree.
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The Gainesville Sun
 
MTSU junior offensive tackle Franklin Dunbar will forego his senior year to enter the NFL Draft. "Franklin is leaving early in hopes of helping provide for his mother, who is having financial problems," Stockstill said. "I have the utmost respect for Franklin on the way he has handled this entire process. He knows he would be a much better player by coming back for his final season and hates letting down his teammates. "He is all his mom has and feels like he needs to help her now. We looked at every angle through the NCAA framework so he could play his final season, but it just was not possible."

Before this week, no Boise State football player had ever left school early for the NFL. Now two Broncos have. Junior cornerback Orlando Scandrick has declared for the NFL Draft and signed with an agent, he told the Idaho Statesman on Thursday night. Scandrick joins left tackle Ryan Clady as the only Broncos to leave school with eligibility remaining for the NFL. "It was a tough decision. I felt I was ready to accept a greater challenge," said Scandrick, who started all but one of his 39 games in three seasons at Boise State.
 
Two years ago, West Virginia defensive lineman Johnny Dingle got the back of his right hand tattooed and it's been a constant source of motivation ever since. The tattoo is three letters: N-F-L. Dingle revealed Thursday that he is entering the NFL Draft and won't return to school next season. A senior from Miami, Dingle originally committed to play at Florida but switched to WVU. He began as a prop and could have played a fifth season next year.
 
The star Central Florida tailback, Kevin Smith, has decided that he enter the 2008 NFL Draft after all.

Smith came close to breaking Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record, but a stingy Mississippi State defense kept him away from the record. Before the Liberty Bowl, he stated that he was going to return in 2008 for his senior season. Now he has changed his mind, and will enter the 2008 NFL Draft.
 
BigEasyTider said:
The star Central Florida tailback, Kevin Smith, has decided that he enter the 2008 NFL Draft after all.

Smith came close to breaking Barry Sanders' single-season rushing record, but a stingy Mississippi State defense kept him away from the record. Before the Liberty Bowl, he stated that he was going to return in 2008 for his senior season. Now he has changed his mind, and will enter the 2008 NFL Draft.
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The best decision he could have made.
 
beardensdaman44 said:
I choose to disagree, but I dont think he will do much in the NFL whether he leaves this year, next year or whenever. Just my H.O.
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From what I can tell he is very near graduating, and he is an honor student. He'll get at least a few hundred grand from the NFL -- a worst case scenario has him being a late first day pick -- and will likely get a million or more.

He's a smart kid, and he'll have plenty of money, and brains, to come back to Central Florida and get the few hours he needs to finish his degree.

And if he posts good numbers at the NFL Combine, he'll get more money for signing his name on a dotted line that most college graduates will make in a lifetime.
 
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West Virginia running back Steve Slaton has announced that he will return for his senior season in 2008. Slaton didn't have the best of years in 2007, his worst as a Mountaineer actually, as he averaged under five yards per carry, and saw his playing time divided up between himself and Noel Devine.

Many feel that Slaton is not a particularly good runner, but mainly a beneficiary of the massive running lanes opened up by the spread option and the elusiveness of Pat White. His draft status was not looking to be particularly good, so he's coming back to see if he can prove himself again in 2008.
 
I think he was hurt quite a bit this year. However, odds are probably 50/50 that he won't even start for WV next year.
 
Kansas All-American cornerback Aqib Talib will enter the NFL Draft today, according to his Father.

Talib is a junior for the Jayhawks, and had an outstanding year in 2007. It was capped by an interception return for a touchdown in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, and he ultimately named the game's MVP. He projects as a late first or second round pick.
 
BigEasyTider said:
Kansas All-American cornerback Aqib Talib will enter the NFL Draft today, according to his Father.

Talib is a junior for the Jayhawks, and had an outstanding year in 2007. It was capped by an interception return for a touchdown in the Orange Bowl against Virginia Tech, and he ultimately named the game's MVP. He projects as a late first or second round pick.
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No surprise here!!! I think that was his audition for the NFL the Orange Bowl.
 
Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Flowers, a two-time second team AP All-American, has decided to enter the NFL Draft. He racked up over 80 tackles and five interceptions this year for the Hokies.

Flowers sent off his paperwork to the NFL Advisory Committee, and they projected him as a second round pick. Once he got the news, he decided to declare for the NFL Draft.
 
Texas tight end Jermichael Finley said Monday he'll leave school early to enter the NFL draft. Finley caught 45 passes for 573 yards and two touchdowns as a third-year sophomore last season. He joins junior tailback Jamaal Charles in leaving Texas early for the draft. Finley redshirted in 2005, when Texas won the national championship, and he caught 31 passes for 372 yards and three TDs in 2006.

KU junior offensive lineman Anthony Collins confirmed to the Journal-World on Monday that he will skip his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. "I'm done with KU," Collins said when reached by cell phone. "I loved every minute of it. I enjoyed my time here. I enjoyed working under coach Mangino. I felt like there was nothing else to prove. I felt like I need to get better at the next level."
 
Auburn defensive tackle Pat Sims has decided that he will declare for the NFL Draft.

Sims would have been a senior in 2008, but informed Tuberville that he will instead forgo his senior season and try his chances in the NFL. Sims was always talented, but finally put aside consistency issues to have a very good year in 2007. He was named Defensive MVP of the Peach Bowl after racking up five tackles, three for a loss, and a sack.

Sims was apparently projected as a second or third round draft pick by the NFL Draft Advisory Committee.
 
Florida State linebacker Geno Hayes has apparently decided to enter the NFL Draft. He has not enrolled in school for the Spring semester, and it seems unlikely that he will do so.

Alabama fans will remember Hayes as the FSU linebacker who was arrested and tazed before Alabama v. Florida State game, but he was allowed to play by Bowden.
 
Ray Rice will skip his senior year to enter the NFL draft after becoming the leading rusher in Rutgers history and transforming the Scarlet Knights into a Top 25 team. "I have always dreamed of playing in the NFL, and I felt the time is right to pursue the opportunity to play at the next level," he said in a statement Tuesday. Rice leaves Rutgers with numerous records, including career yards rushing (4,926), career rushing touchdowns (49) and yards rushing in a season (2,012) and game (280). He became the 13th player in NCAA history to gain more than 2,000 yards in a season. He made The Associated Press' All-American second team as a sophomore and junior.

University of Wisconsin junior cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu has elected to enter the NFL draft and will not return for his senior season, ESPN.com reported Monday. Ikegwuonu, who turned 22 on Monday, filed the appropriate paperwork with the league office to enter the draft, according to the Web site's report. Ikegwuonu started 29 games, with 91 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions and 35 passes defended in his career. He broke up 16 passes this season, tied for seventh-most in school history.
 
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