In 1995, I was hired by the NFL expansion team Carolina Panthers as an Area Scout. As I climbed the ladder into management, I worked hard at tracking trends and data of the NFL Draft, the bloodline of every NFL organization. The Underclassmen or juniors have made a huge impact in terms of numbers to boost options for teams. The yearly surge of top notch talent gave the draft depth in the first four rounds.
From ’95 -’10, 70 Underclassmen were drafted in the top ten, that’s 14.8%. Were the underclassmen make their biggest impact as far as numbers and talent is in the first round. Generally, juniors decide to give up their collegiate eligibility because there is nothing else to accomplish at that level. Several others are cheating themselves by not staying in school and finishing their college degrees, because of agents, parents and financial issues with families that make their decisions easy.
Between ’95-’10 there were 185 underclassmen drafted in the first round, 39.2% of the players drafted in that time frame. The remaining rounds 2-4 stack as follows; Second round 91 players for 19.3%, Third round 72 players for 15.3% and Fourth round 54 players for 11.4%. The late rounds in the NFL draft for underclassmen are fairly even in numbers, Fifth round 28 players for 5.9%, Sixth round 20 players for 4.2% and Seventh round 22 players for 4.7%.
Let me make one thing perfectly clear, because you forgo your final year in college, and apply for the draft thru the NFL office, doesn’t guarantee the prospect will get drafted, let alone play in the National Football League. The total number of Underclassmen that declare in this time frame of ’95-’10 was 665, only 472 were drafted, leaving 29.0% non-drafted or 193 players standing outside looking in. All teams have benefited from the infusion of young talent every year, 71% of all Underclassmen that declare get drafted.
QUARTERBACKS:
Nick Foles Arizona
Andrew Luck Stanford
Ryan Mallett Arkansas
Cam Newton Auburn
RUNNING BACKS:
Mark Ingram Alabama
LaMichael James Oregon
Shane Vereen California
Ryan Williams Virginia Tech
TIGHT ENDS:
Kyle Rudolph Notre Dame
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Johnathan Baldwin Pittsburgh
Justin Blackmon Oklahoma State
Ryan Broyles Oklahoma
Michael Floyd Notre Dame
A.J. Green Georgia
Julio Jones Alabama
Marvin McNutt Iowa
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN:
Tackles:
Matt Reynolds BYU
Tyron Smith USC
CORNERS:
Brandon Harris Miami
Janoris Jenkins Florida
Patrick Peterson LSU
Aaron Williams Texas
SAFETIES:
Mark Barron Alabama
Will Hill Florida
Rahim Moore UCLA
LINEBACKERS:
Travis Lewis Oklahoma
Don’ta Hightower Alabama
Akeem Ayers UCLA
Jerry Franklin Arkansas
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:
Ends:
Da’Quan Bowers Clemson
Marcell Dareus Alabama
Robert Quinn North Carolina
Aldon Smith Missouri
J.J. Watts Wisconsin
Tackles:
Nick Fairley Auburn
Jared Crick Nebraska
Jurrell Casey USC
The bottom line, Underclassmen have a huge effect on the yearly draft in the early rounds. During ’95-’10 window, 2515 prospects were drafted, and of those picks 18.8% were Underclassmen.
