The official players declaring for the draft thread

[A.J.]

i figured we should have one instead fo people making threads for one particular player thread.....

imo, j. charles made a smart decision leaving texas early for the draft.... DE derrick harvey is leaving florida early for the draft.

lets discuss

[studcrackers]

charles is a 2nd rounder at best right now, i love the kid and hope the cowboys get him but he couldve came out next year, what big rb's are coming out next year? kevin smith? felix jones will probably come out this year and same w/slaton. and moreno still has another year.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Calais Campbell and Ryan Clady declared, two guys coming to the top ten picks of mock drafts near you.

Jonathan Stewart is expected to declare, but he hasn't given an official word. He'd be a mid-first rounder with the possibility of rising due to combine numbers. (The man can clean-and-jerk 400 pounds.)

[NO-KG-AI]

I'm declaring for the draft, I think this could be my year. If I have a good combine, I could vault myself into the non-laughing stock area.

[studcrackers]

next year will be my 3rd year, i seriously want to find the slip to declare myself eligible for the draft.

i think a couple years ago i read a snippet that an intramural bball player did it and i want to too.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Add Davone Bess of Hawaii to the list, who should hear his name called sometime in the middle of the second day.

[superLuigi21]

my fairly accurate inside sources tell me that ray rice will declare after the rutgers bowl game tommorow

[Da Schwab]

Add Davone Bess of Hawaii to the list, who should hear his name called sometime in the middle of the second day.

I really thought this was a horrible decision, and I'm not just basing this on Hawaii's bad bowl game.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

I really thought this was a horrible decision, and I'm not just basing this on Hawaii's bad bowl game.

Definitely a questionable decision, but I don't know how much he had to gain from a senior year. It all won't matter unless he posts a 4.3 40 time at the combine and blows some people away, but he's pretty firmly slotted in day 2 and pro scouts will have a crystal-clear idea of his pro career in their minds when evaluating him.

[Icness]

Trying to keep a rolling tally...
In:
Ryan Clady T Boise State, who will be a top 12 pick and possibly top 5
Kenny Phillips S Miami, first safety taken somewhere in the teens most likely
Calais Campbell DE Miami, somewhere between 10th and 30th overall
Derrick Harvey DE Florida, somewhere between 8th and 25th
Erin Henderson LB Maryland, late 1st-2nd round--he's faster than his brother EJ
Jammal Charles RB Texas, anywhere from 2nd to 6th round depending on postseason workouts
Davone Bess WR Hawaii, 4th-6th rounder
Mario Urrutia WR Louisville, 5th-undrafted
Franklin Dunbar T MTSU, 6th-7th round and he'll be a practice squad stash in 08

Out:
Travis Beckum TE Wisonsin
Rey Maualuga LB USC
Brian Cushing LB USC
Kevin Smith RB UCF
Sean Lee LB Penn State

Mario Manningham is not enrolled in classes, so he's done
Jonathan Stewart and Ray Rice are almost universally expected to declare in the next 2-3 days
Mich State WR Devin Thomas will be in, just not official yet

McFadden, Laurinaitis, Gholston, Malcom Jenkins, Talib are all considered "in" by everyone and just haven't officially declared. I have heard that Gholston might return to OSU if he gets the impression he could go #1 overall in 09, and it's not out of the question.

[SportsWorld]

Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall is probably all but gone according to reports here in Chicago.

Sources: Spartan WR Thomas To Enter NFL Draft
http://www.realgmfootball.com/src_wiret ... nfl_draft/

ESPN - Michigan State junior wide receiver Devin Thomas, who ranked among the NCAA leaders in four major receiving and kickoff return categories for 2007, will forego his final season of college eligibility and enter the 2008 NFL draft, ESPN.com has learned.

Thomas, who has already filed the necessary paperwork with the league office, is expected to be selected in the first or second round, according to a source. He likely will make a formal announcement next week.

Only a one-year starter for the Spartans, Thomas had a breakout season in 2007, smashing the school's single-season record for all-purpose yards, set by tailback Lorenzo White in 1985.

In 13 games, Thomas registered 79 receptions for 1,260 yards and eight touchdowns, leading Michigan State in all of those categories. He returned 39 kickoffs for 1,135 yards, a 29.1-yard average. Thomas also had 27 carries for 177 yards and seven punt returns for 18 yards. For the season, Thomas totaled 2,590 all-purpose yards.

[meatball sub]

Mendenhall to the NFL is a surprise to me. Too bad, he could've been a Heisman frontrunner next yr. Good luck to him, he's gonna be a beast.

[A.J.]

mendenhall's decision surely came unexpected, i was for sure he would stay at illinois.

[SportsWorld]

mendenhall's decision surely came unexpected, i was for sure he would stay at illinois.

Most of us knew he would be going pro well before the Rose Bowl. He is expected to be a 1st round pick next year and it's hard to turn that down. Illinois has a good backup in Daniel Dufrene who will do a nice job next year. Also, Rashard's brother Walter Mendenhall should do a nice job backing him up.

[Mags FTW]

After almost breaking rushing record, Smith to turn pro

[superLuigi21]

my fairly accurate inside sources tell me that ray rice will declare after the rutgers bowl game tommorow

well, maybe not right after the bowl game, but a few days later... ray rice will be entering the draft.... i met him late night at a pizza place on campus after a game this year and gave him props and a handshake while i was mad drunk, pizza grease still on my hands... i could tell he didnt appreciate the grease but still was gracious.... the very next game he fumbled the ball, no doubt thanks to my grease hand shake... anyway ill miss him and am thankful for what he did for my alma mater

[Da Schwab]

Stud Cal center Alex Mack has announced he will return for his senior season:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3187216

In the article, they mention how DeSean Jackson is expected to jump. How high could he go, considering he may just be a Hester/Parrish type player?

[Icness]

Stud Cal center Alex Mack has announced he will return for his senior season:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3187216

In the article, they mention how DeSean Jackson is expected to jump. How high could he go, considering he may just be a Hester/Parrish type player?

Good move by Mack--he could be a 1st rounder in 2009.

As for Jackson, he's a source of major contention in the scouting and personnel evaluation worlds. Is he Devin Hester-good on returns, and is he a better offensive weapon than Parrish (great comparative tool to use, BTW!). I say no to the first and probably not to the second, but I know people in much higher places who would say the answer is yes to both. Just as a guesstimate right now, I'd put Jackson somewhere in the 20s, but I wouldn't want my team spending more than a 3rd rounder on him. (Insert "that's why you're not running a team, dumb*** here)

[NO-KG-AI]

That's lofty expectations from people, Hester is probably the best return man EVAR.

[deeney0]

Beckum will be coming back to the Badgers for his senior year. I imagine he's got a good chance to be the first TE off the board in 09?