The Opt Outs and Declared Underclassmen of Interest

[JustinTime18™]

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  ASANTE SAMUELDB, FLORIDA STATE SEMINOLES

  Florida State junior DB Asante Samuel Jr. has opted out of the team's remaining games to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft. Samuel (5'10/184) appeared in eight games this season for the Seminoles before deciding to opt out. With the Seminoles losing two straight games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes sense that the junior cornerback would decide to begin his preparations for the NFL Draft process now. Samuel finished the season with 31 total tackles (1.0 for loss), three interceptions, six pass breakups, nine passes defensed, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Samuel projects to be a Day 2 selection in this spring's draft, and Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given him a third-round grade. 
  

  SOURCE: Pro Football TalkDec 2, 2020, 10:46 AM ET

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RAKEEM BOYDRB, ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS

Arkansas redshirt senior RB Rakeem Boyd announced Tuesday that he has decided to opt out of the Razorbacks' remaining games to begin preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft.As a result of his decision Boyd (6'0/206), who missed time earlier this season due to a foot injury, will not be available for matchups with Missouri and Alabama. The redshirt senior had a very good 2019 campaign, rushing for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns while also catching 19 passes for 160 yards. Comparatively speaking Boyd was a bit limited this season, as in seven games he rushed for 309 yards and three touchdowns while also catching ten passes for 33 yards. As for his NFL prospects, at best Boyd appears to be a late-Day 3 prospect. He has been given an undrafted free agent grade by Pro Football Network's Tony Pauline. 

SOURCE: Rakeem Boyd on Twitter

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CADEN STERNSDB, TEXAS LONGHORNS

Texas junior S Caden Sterns opted out for the remainder of the 2020 season.He's declaring for the 2021 NFL Draft and will begin training for the pre-draft process immediately. Sterns (6'1/207), who posted a career-high 13 tackles in what turned to be his last college game, last Friday's 23-20 loss to Iowa State, posted 52 tackles, 1.5 TFL, one interception and three pass breakups in seven games this year. Sterns joined stud OT Samuel Cosmi in opting out following the loss to the Cyclones, which eliminated Texas from Big 12 title game contention. Sterns, the No. 19 overall prospect in the class of 2018, was the highest-ranked DB in 247Sports Composite history to sign with the Longhorns. He was first team All-Big 12, the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award in 2018 as a true frosh before a knee injury limited him to nine games as a soph. We presently consider Sterns a late-Day 2 or early Day-3 prospect who has the ability to crack the top-60 with a big pre-draft showing. Pro Football Network's Dalton Miller comps him to Grant Delpit.

SOURCE: 247Sports

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  JEREMIAH HAYDELWR, TEXAS STATE BOBCATS

  Texas State junior WR Jeremiah Haydel declared for the NFL Draft.Haydel (6'0/170) has been a factor on both offense and special teams this year, recording six total touchdowns (four receiving, one punt return, one kickoff return). The versatile junior was the first FBS player this season to score touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns this season. Though he caught 40 passes for 408 yards,10.3 YPC and four touchdowns on offense, his greatest drawing card for NFL Draft purposes is his ability to return kicks and punts. PFF College bestowed an exceptional 86.3 overall return grade upon him, to go with an elite 91.3 rating on his punt return abilities. Haydel will need a solid post-season evaluation process to secure a Day 3 selection in the upcoming NFL Draft.
  

  SOURCE: Jeremiah Haydel on TwitterNov 30, 2020, 7:27 PM ET

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  MARLON WILLIAMSWR, UCF KNIGHTS

  UCF senior WR Marlon Williams opted out and declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.Williams (6'0/222) took over the primary deep threat role vacated by Gabriel Davis. In only eight games this year, the senior receiver caught 71 passes for 1,039 yards and ten touchdowns in only eight games. He is rated as the fifth best wide receiver in the country according to PFF College, who awarded him a stellar 88.6 receiving grade. He has broken more tackles, 22, than any other wideout in the nation, as the chiseled wideout's thick frame makes it difficult for smaller corners to bring him down. How he tests at the combine will go a long way towards establishing where he gets drafted, as his game tape is beyond reproach.  
  

  SOURCE: Marlon Williams on TwitterNov 30, 2020, 6:02 PM ET

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  TERRACE MARSHALL JR.WR, LSU TIGERS

  Per Jordy Culotta of ESPN, LSU junior WR Terrace Marshall Jr. has left the team and will not play the rest of the season. It's not entirely clear yet if this means Marshall is declaring for the NFL Draft. Seeing as Marshall is an easy bet to go top-100, it more than likely means he will declare, but we will have to wait for official word on that front. What is known to this point is that Marshall is out of the LSU program and won't be playing in 2020 anymore. The Tigers still have Alabama and Florida on the schedule, but Marshall will not be with them for those games. Marshall finishes with 48 receptions for 731 yards and 10 scores, all of which led the team (by a lot) this season. 
  

  SOURCE: Jordy Culotta on TwitterNov 29, 2020, 3:14 PM ET

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SAMUEL COSMIT, TEXAS LONGHORNS

Per Anwar Richardson of Rivals, Texas redshirt junior T Sam Cosmi will opt out for the rest of the season and focus on preparing for the NFL Draft. Texas only have two games left on the schedule right now. If the Longhorns were more competitive and perhaps playing for a title, it's possible Cosmi (6'7/300) may have stuck around, but with the squad sitting at 5-3, there is no reason for Cosmi to risk anything. It's not like he has much left to prove, either. Cosmi was considered a top-50 pick by many heading into the season and he has been good enough to warrant similar discussion now. Look for freshman Andrej Karic to potentially replace Cosmi for the final couple of games. 

SOURCE: Anwar Richardson on Twitter

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  TUTU ATWELLWR, LOUISVILLE CARDINALS

  Louisville junior WR Tutu Atwell has opted out of the Cardinals' remaining games and will enter the 2021 NFL Draft. Atwell (5'9/165) was one of Louisville's most prolific playmakers on the offensive side of the football this season, along with RB Hassan Hall. In nine games the junior wide receiver caught 46 passes for 625 yards and seven touchdowns, most recently catching five passes for 78 yards and a score in Louisville's Nov. 28 loss at Boston College. Atwell was outstanding in 2019, as he established a new school record in receiving yards (1,276) and tied the school record in touchdown receptions (12). The Louisville standout is projected to be a Day 2 selection in next spring's NFL Draft. 
  

  SOURCE: Tutu Atwell on TwitterDec 8, 2020, 4:19 PM ET
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  DAYO ODEYINGBODL, VANDERBILT COMMODORES

  Vanderbilt senior DE Dayo Odeyingbo has opted out of the team's final two games in order to begin preparing for the 2021 NFL Draft. Odeyingbo (6'6/280) was one of the few bright spots for the Commodores this season, as the team remains winless with an 0-8 record. The senior defensive end, who has already accepted an invitation to play in the Reese's Senior Bowl, has accounted for 3.5 sacks this season. Odeyingbo has been given a second-round grade by Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline, so playing on a bad team does not appear to have hurt his draft prospects. 
  

  SOURCE: Dayo Odeyingbo on Twitter

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  THAYER MUNFORDT, OHIO STATE BUCKEYES

  Ohio State senior T Thayer Munford accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl. Munford (6'6/315) entered the 2020 campaign with 26 starts and 38 appearances (in 42 games) as a Buckeye, but he's been limited to just four starts this season. The senior has been a key cog in the Ohio State offensive line when healthy, serving as the team's starting left tackle in each of the last two-plus seasons. Munford, who was limited by an ankle injury last season, barely considered the possibility of turning pro with a season of eligibility remaining last December. He's been projected as a Day 3 prospect by multiple draft analysts. 
  

  SOURCE: Senior BowlDec 9, 2020, 1:28 PM ET
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  TEVEN JENKINST, OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

  Oklahoma State redshirt senior T Teven Jenkins accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl. Jenkins (6'6/320) made the decision just over a week ago to opt out of the Cowboys' remaining games and instead begin preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft. Part of the process for the redshirt senior will be a stop in Mobile, a worthy honor for one of the men entrusted with the task of clearing the way for RB Chuba Hubbard. An honorable mention all-Big 12 selection in both 2018 and 2019, Jenkins appeared in 44 games at Oklahoma State and has experience at both right and left tackle. He projects to be a Day 3 prospect in next spring's draft, and Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given Jenkins a fourth-round grade. 
  

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Both Jenkins and Munford  are sack free for the year plus have not given up many pressures. Definitely worth watching.