The Opt Outs and Declared Underclassmen of Interest

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  RASHAD WEAVERDL, PITTSBURGH PANTHERS

  Pitt redshirt senior DE Rashad Weaver accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl.Weaver (6'5/270) and fellow Pitt defensive lineman Patrick Jones II combined for 16.5 sacks so far this year, the most of any pass rushing duo in the country. The redshirt senior pass rusher has made a full recovery following a fall camp ACL tear in 2019, recording 34 tackles, 7.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two PBU. Earlier this year, Pro Football Network analyst Tony Pauline lauded his play against Syracuse and believes his strong performance this season could lead to Weaver warranting a Day 2 selection in the upcoming 2021 NFL Draft. 
  

  SOURCE: Reese's Senior BowlDec 11, 2020, 11:24 AM ET

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SPENCER BROWNT, NORTHERN IOWA PANTHERS

Northern Iowa senior T Spencer Brown accepted an invite to the 2021 Reese's Senior Bowl. Brown is looking to play himself into a Day 2 pick down in Mobile. A fringe candidate for the first three rounds right now, Brown has outrageous size at 6-foot-9 and 321-pounds. The dude is a mammoth for a tackle, putting him in the Trent Brown range as far as body frame goes. Unsurprisingly, that makes Brown more of a candidate for the right side of the line, which is where he played in college. If Brown can handle himself well against the smaller, quicker pass-rushers in Mobile, he could really make a case for himself as a top-100 pick. 

SOURCE: Reese's Senior Bowl

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RICHARD LECOUNTE IIIDB, GEORGIA BULLDOGS

Georgia senior DB Richard LeCounte accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.LeCounte (5'11/190) was in a car accident recently that has cost him a couple of games, but he is expected to be fully recovered for the Senior Bowl. The 33-game starter has three interceptions and four breakups so far in 2020. He forced three fumbles and picked off four balls last year. The former five-star recruit's best asset is his versatility and ability to play safety or slide into a corner role if needed. He had a national coming out party picking off two passes  against Baylor in last year's Sugar Bowl. Though he is a bit undersized and lacking elite measurables, his recognition and football IQ for the position is top notch. LeCounte III projects as one of the top-five safeties in the 2021 NFL Draft class and should come off the board on Day 2.

SOURCE: Reese's Senior Bowl

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  HAMSAH NASIRILDEENDB, FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES

  Florida State senior S Hamsah Nasilrideen accepted and invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl.Nasilrideen (6'4/200) would likely have been a high selection last year if he declared for the draft, but he tore his ACL in November and opted to return in order to show teams that he's healthy. He projects as a box safety who is very strong in run support and rarely misses a tackle opportunity. The rangy safety has trouble keeping up with speedy receivers, but locks down Tight ends thanks to his length and physical strength. Nasilrideen was mocked at number 39 in a recent CBS draft run through and is firmly in the Day 1- Day 2 conversation.
  

  SOURCE: Reese's Senior BowlDec 10, 2020, 2:28 PM ET

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Start scouting PKs, I bet Spielman will pick one.

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JOSEPH OSSAIDL, TEXAS LONGHORNS

Texas junior EDGE Joseph Ossai announced on Monday that he has decided to enter the 2021 NFL Draft. Ossai (6'4/253) was one of the Longhorns' standouts on the defensive side of the football this season, as in nine games he tallied 55 total tackles (16.0 for loss), 5.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two quarterback hurries and two pass breakups. Due to his athleticism and ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, Ossai shouldn't have to wait very long to hear his name called in this spring's draft. Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given the edge rusher a second-round grade. 

SOURCE: Joseph Ossai on Twitter

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DIVINE DEABLODB, VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES

Virginia Tech redshirt senior S Divine Deablo will not return to the program for the 2021 season, HC Justin Fuente confirmed Wednesday. Deablo (6'3/226) moving on to the professional ranks comes as no surprise, as he had already accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl. In nine games this season, the redshirt senior safety accounted for 55 total tackles (32 solo, 2.0 for loss), one forced fumble, four interceptions, one quarterback hurry and four pass breakups. Deablo projects to be on the Day 2/3 fringe when it comes to his prospects for this spring's draft. 

SOURCE: Michael Niziolek on Twitter

There are a couple plus sized S in the draft. I wouldn't be shocked if we took one Day 2 and Day 3

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• GREG NEWSOMEDB, NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS

  Northwestern junior CB Greg Newsome has decided to turn pro and will forego the Wildcats' bowl game. Newsome (6'1/190), who suffered a groin injury during Saturday's loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship Game, will not play in the Wildcats' Citrus Bowl matchup with Auburn. The junior cornerback was one of the Big Ten's best this season, finishing the year with one interception and ten pass breakups. Newsome will likely be a Day 2 selection, with the general feeling among scouts being that his name should be called within the first 100 picks of next spring's draft. 
  

  SOURCE: Yahoo SportsDec 21, 2020, 10:25 AM ET
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  DYAMI BROWNWR, NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

  North Carolina junior WR Dyami Brown announced Monday that he will forego the Orange Bowl in order to begin preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft.Brown (6'0/185) was one of the big reasons why North Carolina managed to play well enough to earn a trip to the Orange Bowl despite losing some key players due to injury early in the season. In 11 games, the junior wide receiver caught 55 passes for 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns, with 38 of those grabs coming after the Tar Heels' October 17 loss at Florida State (WR Beau Corrales was lost for the season in that game). Brown, who is also a willing (and effective) blocker on the outside, could hear his name called on Day 2 of next spring's draft. Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given him a third-round grade.
  

  SOURCE: Dyami Brown on TwitterDec 21, 2020, 10:15 AM ET
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  MICHAEL CARTERRB, NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

  North Carolina senior RB Michael Carter will forego the Orange Bowl and instead begin preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft.Carter (5'8/199) will take the gridiron once more before next spring's NFL Draft, as he has accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl. One-half of a running back tandem that gave opposing defenses fits all season long, the senior running back averaged 8.0 yards per carry and rushed for 1,245 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Carter was also effective as a pass-catcher, as he hauled in 25 passes for 267 yards and two more scores. He projects to be a Day 3 selection, with a lucky team likely to grab Carter before the end of the fourth round. As for what the Tar Heels will do in the Orange Bowl, look for Javonte Williams to feature even more prominently than he already has this season.
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  • Javonte Williams

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CHAZZ SURRATTLB, NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS

North Carolina redshirt junior LB Chazz Surratt has decided to opt out of the Orange Bowl in order to focus on NFL Draft preparations. The Tar Heels will be without three of their best players for the January 2 matchup with Texas A&M, as in addition to Surratt (6'3/230) RB Michael Carter and WR Dyami Brown have also opted out. Surratt began his career as a quarterback, but the move to linebacker has paid off in the big way. The junior linebacker has been one of the ACC's best in each of the last two seasons, and as a result he is expected by more than a few scouts to be a Day 2 selection. Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given Surratt a third-round grade. 

SOURCE: Lauren Brownlow on Twitter

Will the last played to leave the Tar Heels program please turn off the lights?

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ALARIC JACKSONT, IOWA HAWKEYES

Iowa redshirt senior T Alaric Jackson announced on Monday that he will enter the 2021 NFL Draft.Jackson (6'6/315) did not play as well as many anticipated he would in 2019, due in large part to a bone bruise that he suffered during the first quarter of Iowa's opening game. The redshirt senior returned to school in hopes of both earning his degree and improving his draft prospects, and that's exactly how things played out. Jackson was a unanimous first team all-Big Ten selection at left tackle, and he was one reason why Iowa quarterbacks were sacked just nine times in seven games. Jackson projects to be a Day 3 selection this spring, but that status may be far more secure than it was last year. 

SOURCE: Justin VanLaere on Twitter