2015 NFL Draft Underclassmen Tracker

Posted by Brad On January – 10 – 2015

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The 2014 NFL Draft set a record with 98 underclassmen declaring. With the college football season coming to a wrap in the next month, we will begin to slowly hear the names of this year’s early entrants. Underclassmen have until January 15 to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft. It’s unlikely we’ll see last year’s number topped but not out of the question. With names already rolling, we begin our yearly exercise of tracking early entrants. We’ll keep this list running as new names emerge leading up to January 15. New this year will be a rumor section to keep readers abreast of anything heard. 

Quarterbacks

Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon

Jameis Winston, QB, Florida St.

Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA

Running Backs

B.J. Catalon, RB, TCU

Braylon Heard, RB, Kentucky

Buck Allen, RB, USC

T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama

Dee Hart, RB, Colorado St.

Trey Williams, RB, Texas A&M

Josh Robinson, RB, Mississippi St.

Tevin Coleman, RB, Indiana

Duke Johnson, RB, Miami

Mike Davis, RB, South Carolina

Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia

Jay Ajayi, RB, Boise St.

Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin

Matt Jones, RB, Florida

Wide Receivers 

Tacoi Sumler, WR, Appalchian St.

Zach D’Orazio, WR, Akron

Jaquel Pitts, WR, Trinity International

DaVaris Daniels, WR, Notre Dame

George Farmer, WR, USC

Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida

Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama

Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona St.

Chris Harper, WR, Cal

Deontay Greenberry, WR, Houston

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma

Nelson Agholor, WR, USC

Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland

Nigel King, WR, Kansas

Shaq Roland, WR, South Carolina

Sammie Coates, WR, Auburn

Devin Funchess, WR/TE, Michigan

Lemar Durant, WR, Simon Fraser

Tight Ends

Jesse James, TE, Penn St.

Jean Sifrin, TE, Massachusetts

Tyler Kroft, TE, Rutgers

Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota

Offensive Line

Patrick Miller, OT, Auburn

Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford

D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida

Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami

Donovan Smith, OT, Penn State

Jeremiah Poutasi, OT, Utah

Tyler Moore, OG, Florida

Defensive Line

David Irving, DT, Iowa St.

Ellis McCarthy, DT, UCLA

Arik Armstead, DT, Oregon

Eddie Goldman, DT, FSU

Darius Philon, DT, Arkansas

Danielle Hunter, DE, LSU

Mario Edwards, DE, Florida St.

Shane Ray, DE, Missouri

Christian Covington, DT, Rice

Xavier Cooper, DT, Washington St.

Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma

Rakeem Nunez-Roches, DT, Southern Miss

Deion Barnes, DE, Penn St.

Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska

Leonard Williams, DT, USC

Eli Harold, DE, Virginia

Linebackers

Darien Rankin, LB, North Carolina

Max Flores, LB, Northern Colorado

Benardrick McKinney, LB, Mississippi St.

Max Valles, LB, Virginia

Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington

Kwon Alexander, LB, LSU

Dante Fowler, OLB, Florida

Cornerbacks

Charles Gaines, CB, Louisville

Jacoby Glenn, CB, UCF

Ronald Darby, CB, Florida St.

P.J. Williams, CB, Florida St.

Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan St.

Alex Carter, CB, Stanford

Jalen Collins, CB, LSU

Marcus Peters, CB, Washington

Lorenzo Doss, CB, Tulane

Safeties

Chris Hackett, S, TCU

Landon Collins, S, Alabama

James Sample, S, Louisville

Gerald Holliman, S, Louisville

Durell Eskridge, S, Syracuse

Specialists

Easton Wahlstrom, LS, Arizona St.

Brad Pinion, P, LSU

Rumors

Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler received a “stay in school” grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Committee but he’s weighing his options after hearing 2nd and 3rd round grades from agents and NFL personnel throughout the season. Butler is a bit of a sleeper that racked up 13 TFL this season. In a DT class that is looking average, at best, Butler could be adding his intriguing skill set to the ranks.

Sources very close to both players suggest it’s a forgone conclusion that Missouri DE Shane Ray and Mississippi St. LB Benardrick McKinney will enter the 2015 NFL Draft.

Miami OT Ereck Flowers has applied for an insurance evaluation for the 2016 NFL Draft. While this could change if he were to get a favorable draft grade it’s a positive for Al Golden and Co. that Flowers is initially looking towards 2016.

Unlike Flowers, we could see a rare redshirt sophomore declare for the draft shortly. Gerod Holliman is putting his feelers out for this year’s draft after his monster statistical 2014 season. 

One name to watch is La’Raven Clark. Texas Tech’s fourth-year OT has sought out an evaluation for the 2015 NFL Draft. 

Likewise, a couple of junior backend defenders dipped their toes into the 2015 NFL Draft waters with evaluations sought on Duke junior Jeremy Cash and LSU junior Jalen Collins.

USC’s Leonard Williams may not be the only SC DL to leave school early. Earlier in the year, DT Antwaun Woods was strongly considering a jump. While no new information suggests the strong feelings, don’t be surprised if he and Williams jump Sarkisian’s ship.

  • Duncan

    I’ll be interested in seeing how Maxx Williams runs at the combine. I’f he runs in the high 40’s or low 50’s i think he’s a lock 1st rounder.