Underclassmen: coming or going?

[wags]

Just thought I would start a thread where we could announce word on underclassmen who are entering the draft or staying in school:

Some who are staying:

Orien Harris (DT) Miami
Winston Justice (LT) Miami
Gabe Watson (DT) Michigan
Verand Morency (RB) OSU

Leaving:

Troy Williamson (WR) SC
Ciatrick Fason (RB) UF
Rian Wallace (LB) Temple
Chris Henry (WR) WV
Pac Man Jones (CB) WV
T.A. McClendon (RB) NCST

[ColdSteelBlue]

Originally Posted by wags

Just thought I would start a thread where we could announce word on underclassmen who are entering the draft or staying in school:

Some who are staying:

Orien Harris (DT) Miami
Winston Justice (LT) Miami
Gabe Watson (DT) Michigan
Verand Morency (RB) OSU

Leaving:

Troy Williamson (WR) SC
Ciatrick Fason (RB) UF
Rian Wallace (LB) Temple
Chris Henry (WR) WV
Pac Man Jones (CB) WV
T.A. McClendon (RB) NCST

Justice -LT plays for USC. You must mean Eric Winston- LT miami

[STEEL BLUE TEXANS]

http://www.draftshowcase.com/underclassmen.htm

[ArlingtonTexan]

Originally Posted by ColdSteelBlue

Justice -LT plays for USC. You must mean Eric Winston- LT miami

Justice LT USC
Winston LT Miami

both can be on the list.

[wags]

Looks like you can add Alex Smith (QB) Utah to the list of players leaving.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/features/nn05.html

[ColdSteelBlue]

Originally Posted by ArlingtonTexan

Justice LT USC
Winston LT Miami

both can be on the list.

I doubt E. Winston will leave. He is a STUD, but injured his knee earlier this year.

[cj5776]

I can't think of his name but Longhorns have a stud Nose G, perfect pick to be groomed by S Payne. Anybody know if he is staying or going?

[wags]

Originally Posted by ColdSteelBlue

I doubt E. Winston will leave. He is a STUD, but injured his knee earlier this year.

E. Winston is staying.

[STEEL BLUE TEXANS]

12/28/04

*Utah QB Alex Smith hinted at the Fiesta Bowl press conference that he is leaning towards the draft. 3rd year sophomore WR Steve Savoy is apparently considering the draft as well.

*Rian Wallace is in and his teammate, QB Walter Washington apparently is leaning towards entering as well.

*Virginia OT D'Brickashaw Ferguson has made it pretty clear he plans to return. Teammates Daryl Blackstock and Ahmad Brooks are also expected to return.

*Tennessee coaches appear confident that FS/CB Jason Allen will be returning to the Vols next year.

*Oklahoma State RB Vernand Morency has decided he will return to the Cowboys next season.

http://www.draftshowcase.com/underclassmen.htm

[ArlingtonTexan]

Originally Posted by ColdSteelBlue

I doubt E. Winston will leave. He is a STUD, but injured his knee earlier this year.

i was talking about the staying list...think both have done so publicly, did not mean to confuse.

[J-Man]

Does anyone know if Jaxson Appel is thinking of coming out as a JR? That kid is a tackling machine...he would be a good pick-up in the middle rounds. He might be better suited to SS in the long run but he would probably be an immediate positive impact on special teams and a solid back-up for Coleman.

[Wolf]

What are some of the top Juniors thinking? Here's some dish.
1/7/05
*Brandon Browner finally made it official as he is leaving Oregon State for the NFL Draft. This adds more depth to an already great CB class. Browner currently is a late 1st-early 2nd Rounder, but could move up a little higher into the 1st Round after workouts.

1/6/05
*Miami WR Roscoe Parrish has made it official as he will enter the draft. This is a questionable move on his part, Parrish will likely be selected in the middle rounds, but should have immediate contributions as a return man.

*A new underclassman name has surfaced as Nebraska DT LeKevin Smith is considering following his teammate Fabian Washington to the pros. The 6'2, 310 lb junior would likely be a middle round selection.

*Oregon State's Brandon Browner was considered almost a sure thing to enter, but sources close to Browner say the recent rash of cornerbacks declaring may have pushed Browner towards coming back. But there are some conflicting reports floating that Browner may have alread decided to declare. No official word has been given yet though and this will be an interesting one to follow.

*Texas has already had Jonathan Scott stay, but sources close to Texas say they expect to lose at least one junior by the time this is all done. DT Rodrique Wright has made it pretty clear he's returning, so it looks as though the early defector could FS/CB Michael Huff.

1/5/05
*Texas OT Jonathan Scott was informed by the NFL office that he would be a 2nd Round selection. Thus, Scott has decided to remain at Texas for his senior season. He did not receive any details as to why he was graded as a 2nd Round pick. In a year where most of the top OTs are not left side candidates, Scott was generally preceived to be higher rated. He should be a top 10-15 player heading into next season.

*Michigan SS Ernest Shazor may have had some doubt creep in later in the year, but sources close to the Michigan program still say he is expected to leave. Teammate Marlin Jackson has been talking to Shazor about the benefits of coming back as has Leon Hall, but the feeling is that Shazor is still wanting to leave.

*Florida LB Channing Crowder has decided to enter the draft and ESPN is now reporting that another SEC LB, Georgia's Odell Thurman has as well.

*Some cornerbacks are apparently headed to the NFL, Clemson's Justin Miller has made it official as he has informed the Clemson coaches that he will be leaving. Two other highly regarded underclassmen, Virginia Tech's Jimmy Williams and Oregon State's Brandon Browner are both leaning towards entering the draft.

*We had previously reported that USC QB Matt Leinart had decided to leave. But reports out of California are now saying Leinart is leaning slightly towards staying for his senior season. I still believe that when it comes down to it, Leinart will ultimately choose the draft.

*Georgia FS Thomas Davis has finally made it official as he has declared for the draft. Teammate Max Jean-Giles is likely to follow Davis to the NFL, while LB Odell Thurman is still about 50/50.

*There have been several RBs declaring, now one more has decided as Louisville's Eric Shelton will enter the NFL Draft. This could scare off some RB prospects, although it is expected that DeAngelo Williams enter the draft and now according to the Miami Herald, Leon Washington may consider as well. However, Miami's Frank Gore says that unless he's a 1st Rounder, he's staying and it is unlikely the advisory committee will give him that evaluation. Gore's teammate Roscoe Parrish says he won't leave unless he's certain he'll go by the 4th Round.

*South Florida RB Andre Hall had applied to the advisory committee as well, but he has now stated that he will return to school.

*Maryland DE Shawne Merriman has long been reported to be leaning towards the draft and he has now made it official as he has declared for the draft.

*Expect an announcement either today or tomorrow that West Virginia CB PacMan Jones will enter the draft.

*A bit of a surprise as San Diego State WR Jeff Webb has applied to the advisory committee and he says he'll be leaving if there he is sure that he will be drafted.

*After winning the Orange Bowl, USC LB Lofa Tatupu is expected to enter the draft early. One junior who I am surprised has not been more interested in the draft in TE Dominique Byrd who could take advantage of a weaker TE class, but he apparently will return.


the rest of the page.
http://www.draftshowcase.com/underclassmen.htm

[TexansCanes]

what do you guys think of roscoe? i think he could be a good pick in the 5th or 6th just because of what he can bring to this team as a returner. i like what jj moses can do but he doesn't have that second gear to take it to the house. he gets to the hole but gets caught from behind. moses isn't anything other than a returner, but roscoe, as he has showed this year, can be a decent wr. even if he isn't, i think he can be like a dante hall. he has 3 punts returned for td sharing time with devin hester.

[texans]

Frank gore just entered the draft and i was thinking that he would be a great pick for us in the 4th or 5th and would be the brusier the dom wants.

(sorry about no like is on KFFL)

[Marcus]

Originally Posted by texans

Frank gore just entered the draft and i was thinking that he would be a great pick for us in the 4th or 5th and would be the brusier the dom wants.

The brusier that Dom wants?

Think big. Like 6'3", around 250 big. Like Eric Shelton of Louisville

[infantrycak]

Originally Posted by Marcus

The brusier that Dom wants?

Think big. Like 6'3", around 250 big. Like Eric Shelton of Louisville

Or Kay Jay on the 2nd day--a classic Casserly move to get a RB low looking for a diamond in the rough.

[texasguy346]

My only concerns with Kay Jay are his age (played minor league baseball for 4 years), his durability, and his blocking/recieving skills. The blocking and recieving isn't a huge deal since DD is an excellent reciever, and if we were to draft Kay Jay he'd likely be in on short yardage scenarios where everyone knows we'll be running for the first down or TD. Just about every RB has to work on picking up the blitz when they come to the NFL, and some pick it up quicker than others. As far as his age it is only a concern because of the relatively short careers that most RBs have. Once a RB hits 30 he is considered over the hill, and essientially done. Curtis Martin is the oldest player to lead the league in rushing, and he's 31.

[infantrycak]

I wasn't saying Brown isn't the better prospect, more of a Kay Jay looks like a possibility for a bruiser back as well and it wouldn't be surprising if they filled other spots above and then went for him in the 4th.

[Grid]

Kay Jay is definatly not a solution for our running game. If we draft an RB high, its going to be someone who we think could replace DD as the franchise back. Kay Jay is just too old.

Merriman could be a good choice for us if we trade down in the 1st.

[ColdSteelBlue]

Originally Posted by texans

Frank gore just entered the draft and i was thinking that he would be a great pick for us in the 4th or 5th and would be the brusier the dom wants.

(sorry about no like is on KFFL)

Gore is pretty strong but he is NOT a bruiser. in fact I think of him as a more injury prone version of Hollings. Shelton, Jacobs and Harris or the only true bruisers in this draft.