Will Any Noles Leave Early?

This is the time of year when college juniors start declaring for the NFL draft and foregoing their senior year. In fact, Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel today indicated that he has encouraged 13 of his juniors to ask the NFL where they might be selected in the next draft.

The Noles probably most likely won't have many juniors that will leave for the draft or would be high draft choices.Those who may be considering are running back Antone Smith, wide receiver Greg Carr, quarterback Xavier Lee, and linebackers Geno Hayes and Derek Nicholson.

Smith and Carr did not have great years and could definitely use another year to improve on their draft situation. Nicholson would be border line in that he is not being projected as going in the early rounds of the NFL draft. Hayes given many projections that have him going high in the draft in my opinion is more likely to opt for the NFL than stay for his senior year.

Juniors can apply to the NFL College Advisory Committee and ask for an opinion regarding where they would go in the draft. The committee, made up of NFL general managers and personnel directors, provides underclassmen with an expected round for the draft.

The player can then elect to remain in college or make himself available for the draft. Players must apply to the College Advisory Committee for an evaluation by January 4, 2008. The decision on whether to enter the NFL draft must be made by an underclassmen by January 15, 2008.