The official players declaring for the draft thread

[Da Schwab]

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

I wasn't comparing him to Hester as a great return man, just as a one-dimensional type NFLer.

[Icness]

Stolen from PFW.com...

2008 NFL Draft Early Entrants
Updated at 7:10 p.m. EST Wednesday, Jan. 9

Quarterbacks
Bobby Reid, Oklahoma State

Running backs
Jamaal Charles, Texas
Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois
Ray Rice, Rutgers
Kevin Smith, Central Florida

Tight ends
Martellus Bennett, Texas A&M
Jermichael Finley, Texas
Cornelius Ingram, Florida

Wide receivers
Adrian Arrington, Michigan
James Banks, Carson-Newman
Davone Bess, Hawaii
Ryan Grice-Mullen, Hawaii
James Hardy, Indiana
Taj Smith, Syracuse
Devin Thomas, Michigan State
Mario Urrutia, Louisville

Offensive linemen
OG Branden Albert, Virginia
OLT Ryan Clady, Boise State
OT Anthony Collins, Kansas
OLT Franklin Dunbar, Middle Tennessee State

Defensive linemen
DE Calais Campbell, Miami (Fla.)
DE Johnny Dingle, West Virginia
DE Derrick Harvey, Florida
DT Pat Sims, Auburn

Linebackers
WLB Geno Hayes, Florida State
WLB Erin Henderson, Maryland
MLB Jerod Mayo, Tennessee

Safeties
FS DaJuan Morgan, North Carolina State
FS Kenny Phillips, Miami (Fla.)

Cornerbacks
Joe Burnett, Central Florida
Brandon Flowers, Virginia Tech
Jack Ikegwuonu, Wisconsin
Orlando Scandrick, Boise State
Aqib Talib, Kansas

[GSWbandwagon]

alex mack can be a 1st round pick next year? i know there's talk about him moving to tackle (and it was experimented with last spring) but as a center would he really be a 1st round pick? i was under the impression that centers don't normally go round 1.

[A.J.]

it looks like WR Malcolm Kelly is is gonna declare for the draft....

too bad, i was hoping he would stay and have another good year.

[El Turco]

word out of Laurinitis s dinner with jim tressel is that Laurinitis is going to declare next few days.

[Icness]

Vernon Gholston in, Malcolm Jenkins and Brain Robiskie staying at OSU. Laruinaitis and Freeman to decide over the weekend.

Gholston is a legit top 10 pick, and I think Jenkins probably was a top 20 pick but he'll now enter next season as the unquestioned top CB in CFB.

Adrian Arrington declared. LOL! This guy is the epitome of "character issues"--throws a pregnant woman out of a moving car while driving drunk, gets into three reported fights with teammates (one with Jake Long, no less, further showing he has awful judgment!), and decides he doesn't want to learn a new offense, so he goes pro. I pity his agent.

[A.J.]

bad decision by jenkins....he was slated to be the first CB to come off the board, maybe he wants another shot at a BCS championship.

[studcrackers]

the 3rd times a charm

anyone know if james hardy has declared or when he plans to make an announcement

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Jonathan Stewart of Oregon has declared. Eye-popping combine numbers will follow.

[El Turco]

slaton has declared.

[Wizards2Lottery]

good for him. Hes the 2nd best running back behind McFadden in this draft. I actually wouldn't be surprised if he ended up better than McFadden in the pros.

Pat White should be declaring soon.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

good for him. Hes the 2nd best running back behind McFadden in this draft. I actually wouldn't be surprised if he ended up better than McFadden in the pros.

Pat White should be declaring soon.

Mr. Stewart says otherwise.

Curious that Pat White wants to declare.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Felix Jones in, per Wiretap. 'Twill be interesting to see how teams evaluate him.

[A.J.]

Felix Jones in, per Wiretap. 'Twill be interesting to see how teams evaluate him.

that was sort of a dumb decision to declare for the draft...imo, he should have stayed and be a feature back and se if he can improve his draft srock somemore

[Monkeyfeng06]

xavier lee from FSU is IN!!! OMG!!!

[PhilipNelsonFan]

A.J., I agree to a point. Jones may have had an outside shot at becoming the Nation's Top Running Back and a top-five pick as a result. He'll probably still sneak into the first round, but he'll now have to live with that decision.

Xavier Lee declared because he was named in the Free Shoes U. cheating scandal and wanted to show how big of a priority academics is to him.

[NoSkyy]

Wow this draft is looking deeper and deeper in the skills position. Hooray for the Bears who need help...everywhere!

[RonMexicoFan]

word out of Laurinitis s dinner with jim tressel is that Laurinitis is going to declare next few days.

actually, laurinitis is staying at school according to university sources.

[A.J.]

xavier lee from FSU is IN!!! OMG!!!

what a bust he has been, i had high hopes for him when he entered florida st.

[GSWbandwagon]

desean jackson is waiting until tomorrow to announce a decision. word is that he's actually seriously considering staying but i'll still be shocked if he doesn't go.