- Sep 8, 2014
- 25,434
- 59,382
We got off easy this year, would have liked to see the Kicker return though. UGA just lost one of their DL's and will probably lose Roquan Smith, leaving only 4 returning D starters:
Staying or going: SEC players making their decisions on the 2018 NFL draft
http://gridironnow.com/2018-nfl-draft-sec-underclassmen-tracker/
Alabama
DE Isaiah Buggs: Buggs, who was a key contributor in 2017 after transferring in from junior college, will stay for his senior season.
G Lester Cotton Jr.: He was a fulltime starter this season and is a proficient run blocker. He can improve in pass protection, for sure.
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick: As expected, he is turning pro. He will be the first or second defensive back off the board. He can play corner, nickel and safety – and he has played each at an extremely high level.
RB Damien Harris: Harris will stay for his senior season, which is a surprise. He led the Tide in rushing in each of the past two seasons.
S Ronnie Harrison: Harrison — a big, physical thumper on the back end — is bypassing his senior season. He gets overshadowed in Alabama’s secondary, but Harrison is a good safety who will go early in the draft.
DT Da’Ron Payne: Payne is going pro. He will be one of the first defensive tackles off the board, if not the first.
G Ross Pierschbacher: He is a three-year starter for the Tide, and he probably could play center if needed. Pierschbacher, an Iowa native, already has graduated and likely would be a second-day pick.
WR Calvin Ridley: Ridley, who turned 23 on December 20, announced he is turning pro. He will be one of the first receivers drafted, if not the first. He was one of the most productive receivers in Alabama history.
RB Bo Scarbrough: Scarbrough is turning pro. If ever a running back can be called intimidating physically, it’s Scarbrough. At the same time, he hasn’t come close to being the force that was projected. He is big, fast and physical, and had just 267 career carries — or 128 fewer than Derrick Henry had in 2015 alone.
Florida
DT Taven Bryan: He already has announced he is going pro. He has a chance to go late in the first round but seems more likely to go on the second day. He has startling quickness for a guy who weighs almost 300 pounds, and is a good athlete as well.
WR Antonio Callaway: Reports say he is turning pro. He has a ton of talent, but he also will be arriving in the NFL with a lot of baggage. A lot.
S Marcell Harris: Somewhat surprisingly, Harris is turning pro. He missed 2017 with a torn Achilles, and conventional wisdom was he would petition the NCAA for the missed year — a petition that would’ve been granted — and show that he was healthy in 2018. Harris, who already has graduated, seems likely to be a third-day pick.
T/G Martez Ivey: Ivey announced Thursday night he was staying for this senior season. He hasn’t been as dominant as expected as a collegian, but has started at guard and tackle, has good athleticism and can be a road-grader in the running game.
DE/OLB Cece Jefferson: Jefferson said Wednesday he is staying in school. He’s a ‘tweener in size (6-2, 250) who has seen time as a tackle and as an end; he tied for the SEC lead with 13.5 tackles for loss this season and has impressive quickness off the ball. Florida seems likely to run a 3-4 in 2018, and Jefferson could end up as a stand-up outside linebacker.
K Eddy Pineiro: Pineiro, who has a big leg and is a touchback machine on kickoffs, has announced he is turning pro.
RB Jordan Scarlett: He was suspended for the season and seems all but certain to leave.
Georgia
LB Roquan Smith: It seems a given that Smith, who was the best defensive player in the SEC this season, leaves for the NFL. He should go in the first round.
DT Trenton Thompson: In a mild surprise, Thompson is turning pro. Thompson certainly has the size and skill set to play in the NFL. But he had a somewhat disappointing season and at one point seemed to be leaning toward remaining in school for his senior season.
LSU
C Will Clapp: Clapp has decided to turn pro. His versatility — he started at guard and center for the Tigers — will be a big selling point. He is an especially good run blocker and should be off the board by the end of the third round.
RB Derrius Guice: To no one’s surprise, he is bypassing his senior season. He should be one of the first three running backs selected in the 2018 NFL draft.
CB Donte Jackson: He has decided to turn pro and announced his decision on Twitter. He was one of the fastest players in college football and showed improved coverage skills this season.
OLB Arden Key: To no one’s surprise, Key is going pro. He never seemed to be 100 percent healthy after offseason shoulder surgery, but when he is at his best, he is the best edge rusher in college football. And big-time edge rushers are like gold in the NFL.
CB Kevin Toliver II: Toliver is going pro. He has great size (6-3, 204), but truth be told, he never has lived up to his high school hype. But he will test well, and 6-3 corners are highly valued.
OT Toby Weathersby: Somewhat surprisingly, Weathersby is turning pro. He seems likely to be a third-day pick.
Tennessee
DB Rashaan Gaulden: The versatile Gaulden — he played nickel, corner and safety for the Vols — is turning pro. He has good size (6 feet 1, 193 pounds) and is both physical and solid in coverage.
RB John Kelly: Kelly has announced he is turning pro. Kelly had a disappointing season – 778 rushing yards – but it certainly wasn’t all his fault. UT’s offense was a disaster.
DT Kahlil McKenzie: McKenzie, whose dad, Reggie, is the GM of the Oakland Raiders, somewhat surprisingly announced he is turning pro. In his three seasons at UT, he never came close to living up to his recruiting hype.
Staying or going: SEC players making their decisions on the 2018 NFL draft
http://gridironnow.com/2018-nfl-draft-sec-underclassmen-tracker/
Alabama
DE Isaiah Buggs: Buggs, who was a key contributor in 2017 after transferring in from junior college, will stay for his senior season.
G Lester Cotton Jr.: He was a fulltime starter this season and is a proficient run blocker. He can improve in pass protection, for sure.
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick: As expected, he is turning pro. He will be the first or second defensive back off the board. He can play corner, nickel and safety – and he has played each at an extremely high level.
RB Damien Harris: Harris will stay for his senior season, which is a surprise. He led the Tide in rushing in each of the past two seasons.
S Ronnie Harrison: Harrison — a big, physical thumper on the back end — is bypassing his senior season. He gets overshadowed in Alabama’s secondary, but Harrison is a good safety who will go early in the draft.
DT Da’Ron Payne: Payne is going pro. He will be one of the first defensive tackles off the board, if not the first.
G Ross Pierschbacher: He is a three-year starter for the Tide, and he probably could play center if needed. Pierschbacher, an Iowa native, already has graduated and likely would be a second-day pick.
WR Calvin Ridley: Ridley, who turned 23 on December 20, announced he is turning pro. He will be one of the first receivers drafted, if not the first. He was one of the most productive receivers in Alabama history.
RB Bo Scarbrough: Scarbrough is turning pro. If ever a running back can be called intimidating physically, it’s Scarbrough. At the same time, he hasn’t come close to being the force that was projected. He is big, fast and physical, and had just 267 career carries — or 128 fewer than Derrick Henry had in 2015 alone.
Florida
DT Taven Bryan: He already has announced he is going pro. He has a chance to go late in the first round but seems more likely to go on the second day. He has startling quickness for a guy who weighs almost 300 pounds, and is a good athlete as well.
WR Antonio Callaway: Reports say he is turning pro. He has a ton of talent, but he also will be arriving in the NFL with a lot of baggage. A lot.
S Marcell Harris: Somewhat surprisingly, Harris is turning pro. He missed 2017 with a torn Achilles, and conventional wisdom was he would petition the NCAA for the missed year — a petition that would’ve been granted — and show that he was healthy in 2018. Harris, who already has graduated, seems likely to be a third-day pick.
T/G Martez Ivey: Ivey announced Thursday night he was staying for this senior season. He hasn’t been as dominant as expected as a collegian, but has started at guard and tackle, has good athleticism and can be a road-grader in the running game.
DE/OLB Cece Jefferson: Jefferson said Wednesday he is staying in school. He’s a ‘tweener in size (6-2, 250) who has seen time as a tackle and as an end; he tied for the SEC lead with 13.5 tackles for loss this season and has impressive quickness off the ball. Florida seems likely to run a 3-4 in 2018, and Jefferson could end up as a stand-up outside linebacker.
K Eddy Pineiro: Pineiro, who has a big leg and is a touchback machine on kickoffs, has announced he is turning pro.
RB Jordan Scarlett: He was suspended for the season and seems all but certain to leave.
Georgia
LB Roquan Smith: It seems a given that Smith, who was the best defensive player in the SEC this season, leaves for the NFL. He should go in the first round.
DT Trenton Thompson: In a mild surprise, Thompson is turning pro. Thompson certainly has the size and skill set to play in the NFL. But he had a somewhat disappointing season and at one point seemed to be leaning toward remaining in school for his senior season.
LSU
C Will Clapp: Clapp has decided to turn pro. His versatility — he started at guard and center for the Tigers — will be a big selling point. He is an especially good run blocker and should be off the board by the end of the third round.
RB Derrius Guice: To no one’s surprise, he is bypassing his senior season. He should be one of the first three running backs selected in the 2018 NFL draft.
CB Donte Jackson: He has decided to turn pro and announced his decision on Twitter. He was one of the fastest players in college football and showed improved coverage skills this season.
OLB Arden Key: To no one’s surprise, Key is going pro. He never seemed to be 100 percent healthy after offseason shoulder surgery, but when he is at his best, he is the best edge rusher in college football. And big-time edge rushers are like gold in the NFL.
CB Kevin Toliver II: Toliver is going pro. He has great size (6-3, 204), but truth be told, he never has lived up to his high school hype. But he will test well, and 6-3 corners are highly valued.
OT Toby Weathersby: Somewhat surprisingly, Weathersby is turning pro. He seems likely to be a third-day pick.
Tennessee
DB Rashaan Gaulden: The versatile Gaulden — he played nickel, corner and safety for the Vols — is turning pro. He has good size (6 feet 1, 193 pounds) and is both physical and solid in coverage.
RB John Kelly: Kelly has announced he is turning pro. Kelly had a disappointing season – 778 rushing yards – but it certainly wasn’t all his fault. UT’s offense was a disaster.
DT Kahlil McKenzie: McKenzie, whose dad, Reggie, is the GM of the Oakland Raiders, somewhat surprisingly announced he is turning pro. In his three seasons at UT, he never came close to living up to his recruiting hype.
uh-oh, I missed the point that it was about those capable of returning. My-bad, my standard bad.
