The Opt Outs and Declared Underclassmen of Interest

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Four more players enter draft; two return … The flow of underclassmen to this year’s draft continues despite the holidays with four more announcing in the past 24 hours that they were foregoing their remaining eligibility and turning pro this winter. The latest players to announce include Southern California G/T Alijah Vera-Tucker, Stanford WR Simi Fehoko, Duke OLB Chris Rumph and Florida State DE Josh Kaindoh. 
Vera-Tucker is a legitimate second day prospect who originally opted out of the season and declared for the draft, but then opted back in, and who has now re-declared. For his part, Duke’s Rumph is a late second, early third day prospect, while Fehoko is a third-year player that was expected to be one of the top returning WRs for the 2022 draft, but opted to get a start on his pro career. Right now, he figures to go in the 4th or 5th round area, but definitely could open some eyes at the combine and secure a higher draft position. For the record, Fehoko is a true, full-sized wideout who is listed at 6-4, 230 and had 37 receptions for almost 600 yards in 6 games for the Cardinal this fall. Meanwhile, Kaindoh is an interesting prospect that looked all the part of a future top pick early in his career, but was setback by a serious knee injury three games into the 2019 campaign and which continued to hamper him this year. However, he has prototype size at 6-6, 265 and could end up being a late-round steal if the knee comes back. 
At the same time, two other top prospects in Michigan DE Aidan Hutchinson and California C Mike Saffell have announced that they will be taking advantage of the free season waiver and will be returning to school next fall.

December 27, 2020 - 7:39 pm

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CAM MCGRONELB, MICHIGAN WOLVERINES

Michigan junior LB Cam McGrone declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. McGrone is fitting to be a top-75 pick, if not a top-50 pick, this spring. For him to not leave, with all the coaching changes Michigan are about to endure, would have been a shock. At 6-foot-1 and 232-pounds, McGrone has fantastic size for the position and has all the athletic tools you want to see from a young Day 2 linebacker. McGrone played in all but one of Michigan's six games this year, racking up 26 tackles and a half-sack. Much of that production came after an upper body injury he suffered on Halloween, though, so it's possible scouts may be looking more at his healthy 2019 tape for his projection. 

SOURCE: Nick Baumgardner on Twitter

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Two more juniors enter draft … A couple more juniors have announced they’ll be entering the 2021 draft including dynamic Buffalo RB Jaret Patterson and Stanford C Drew Dalman. Patterson led all college backs with an average of almost 180 rushing yards per game this season, which prorated over a 12-game schedule works out to over 2,100 yards; he also scored 19 TDs in just 6 games including 8 in one game! Patterson, though, is still likely only an early third-day type prospect as he’s a little undersized at just 5-9, 195. Meanwhile, Dalman who is the 11th C on the GBN positional ranking is also a third-day candidate

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TYLAN WALLACEWR, OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Oklahoma State senior WR Tylan Wallace has entered the 2021 NFL Draft. Wallace (6'0/190) played the first half of Tuesday's Cheez-It Bowl win over Miami, but the decision was made to sit out the second half. The senior wide receiver, who was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2018, appeared in ten games this season and caught 59 passes for 922 yards and six touchdowns. For his career, Wallace caught 205 passes for 3,434 yards and 26 touchdowns. As part of a deep crop of wide receivers, Wallace should not be available beyond the top-60 picks in this spring's draft. 

SOURCE: Kelli Masters Management on Twitter

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@"BarrNone55" said:
Or trade down from 13...either way, I'll be shocked if we don't recoup that 2...I think this draft is light on top with a thick Day 2...

I really hope so - round 2 has probably been Spielman's absolute best: Rudolph, Kendricks, Alexander, Irv Smith, Cleveland...there is not a bad pick within that group. (See, I can give Rick compliments..)

Packaging mid-round picks to move up into the 2nd is a great idea, I just don't think Spielman will give up 3 lower picks for 1 higher pick. But he did for Cordarelle, so fingers crossed.

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Or Teddy

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TALANOA HUFANGADB, USC TROJANS

USC junior S Talanoa Hufanga declared for the NFL Draft. Hufanga (6'2/215) led USC with 62 tackles, an average of 10.3 tackles per game, while finishing second in tackles for loss with 5.5 and sacks with 3.0. One of the most versatile players in the country, the junior safety lined up in 21 different positional alignments according to PFF College, serving as a hybrid safety/linebacker for DC Todd Orlando. He was named the Pac-12 Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year as well as earning All-American accolades. Hufanga projects as one of the top safeties in the 2021 class and should come off the board in the second-to-third round range. 

SOURCE: 247 Sports

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XAVIER KELLYDL, ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Arkansas redshirt senior DL Xavier Kelly declared for the NFL Draft.Kelly (6'4/305)  initially signed on with Clemson as a four-star recruit in the 2016 class, but was never able to gain much traction on the depth chart during his time with the college superpower. He closed out his Tigers career having totaled just 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks before opting to grad transfer to Arkansas this February. The Razorbacks will return seven seniors in 2021 who would have run out of eligibility if not for the NCAA's one time exception for all players who participated in the 2020 season. The defensive lineman played in eight games this season, registering eight tackles and two tackles for loss. Kelly projects as a late Day 3 selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. 

SOURCE: Xavier Kelly on Twitter

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Daviyon just declared an hour or two ago

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DAVIYON NIXONDL, IOWA HAWKEYES

Iowa redshirt junior DT Daviyon Nixon declared for the NFL Draft.Nixon (6'3/309) is coming off a standout season where he was the only player to be named as a finalist for both the Outland Trophy and Bronco Nagurski Trophy. Those accolades are in addition to already earning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Iowa Western Community College transfer led the Big Ten with an incredible 33 TFL, including 5.5 sacks from an interior line position which tied teammate Chauncey Golden for the Big Ten lead. The mammoth Hawkeyes tackle is a surefire first round NFL Draft talent who is rated as the 10th best overall prospect by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper.

SOURCE: Daviyon Nixon on Twitter