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The Opt Outs and Declared Underclassmen of Interest

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  • 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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#1 · Dec 2, 9:13 AM
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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. 

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#2 · Dec 2, 9:14 AM
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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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#3 · Dec 2, 9:17 AM
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  • 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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#4 · Dec 2, 9:18 AM
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  • 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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#5 · Dec 2, 9:23 AM
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  • 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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#6 · Dec 2, 9:24 AM
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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. 

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#7 · Dec 2, 9:24 AM
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  • 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
  • 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. 
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#8 · Dec 8, 4:43 PM
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  • 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
  • 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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#9 · Dec 10, 6:20 AM
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Both Jenkins and Munford  are sack free for the year plus have not given up many pressures. Definitely worth watching.

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#10 · Dec 10, 6:22 AM
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  • 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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#11 · Dec 11, 10:15 AM
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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. 
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#12 · Dec 11, 10:15 AM
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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.

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#13 · Dec 11, 10:17 AM
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  • 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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#14 · Dec 11, 10:20 AM
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Start scouting PKs, I bet Spielman will pick one.

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#15 · Dec 13, 3:06 PM
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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. 

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#16 · Dec 14, 11:11 AM
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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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#17 · Dec 16, 11:41 AM
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  • 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
  • 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
  • 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. RELATED: 
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#18 · Dec 21, 9:40 AM
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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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#19 · Dec 21, 12:46 PM
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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. 
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#20 · Dec 28, 12:56 PM
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@"BarrNone55" said:
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. 
Alaric was fine, Tyler Linderbaum was better. Linderbaum was about as dominant as Wirfs
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#21 · Dec 28, 2:01 PM
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