Southeastern Conference football fans hardly had time to enjoy the conference’s seventh consecutive national championship before they had to start scanning the headlines to see if their favorite team was going to lose any underclassmen to the NFL Draft, or in some cases how many they were going to lose.
That’s a phenomenon that didn’t plague college football until the early 1980s, when Georgia’s Herschel Walker chose to bypass his senior year with the Bulldogs and go straight to pro football. At that time, the United States Football League allowed players to jump to the USFL after their junior years, unlike the NFL that did not start drafting underclassmen until 1989, and then only because of threat of legal action.
The NFL’s only requirement was that a player be three years removed from his high school senior class graduating, whether he graduated with them or not. Since that time, the NFL has taken frequently to raiding the teams in the Southeastern Conference for talent.
This year is no exception.
A coach is used to having his roster turn over on four- or five-year cycles. But it is almost to the point that if a squad is loaded with seniors, the feeling is that the team does not have players good enough to jump to the NFL. That is, of course, not always the case. Some players with NFL-quality talent understand how a senior year will be beneficial to their development. Many want to graduate. And some just enjoy the college life.
The deadline for underclassmen to make themselves eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft is Tuesday and, as usual, the SEC will furnish a great majority of those soon-to-be draftees. As of Sunday, there were 29 underclassmen who have made themselves eligible for the Draft. This really should not come as a surprise considering the quality of football played in the SEC.
So which SEC team is getting hit hardest by underclassmen declaring early for the NFL Draft? Well, it’s not Alabama or Georgia, but LSU who has felt the brunt of the leaving early syndrome.
LSU started five seniors in its Chick-fil-A Bowl loss to Clemson, but Les Miles won’t actually be getting a team returning in 2013 stacked with veteran players. As of last weekend, 10 LSU underclassmen have declared for the NFL and all will be eligible for the Draft. That means even if they are not drafted they have given up their collegiate eligibility and cannot return to playing college football.
Two running backs will be one of four offensive players to leave LSU early — Michael Ford and Spencer Ware. Brad Wing, the outstanding punter, will also go early as will offensive tackle Chris Faulk. The rest of the early parade from LSU that will be Draft day hopefuls all come from the defensive side of the football, which has been a major team strength the past few years.
Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu, The Honey Badger, is among that defensive exodus, although he really doesn’t count as a member of the 2012 team since he was suspended and missed this past season. The list of LSU defensive players that are jumping to the NFL are tackle Bennie Logan, ends Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery, linebacker Kevin Minter, cornerback Tharold Simon and safety Eric Reid.
Losing 10 players is unusual and might cause you to wonder if there is some underlying reason. But the players who are leaving all spoke in glowing terms about their time at LSU.
“This was a very difficult decision because I always wanted to be a Tiger and I love LSU,” said Reid. “But, after careful consideration and talking with my family, I feel like this is the right time to make this decision. I will always be a LSU Tiger.”
Among the other 29 SEC star players who are leaving early are Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who many think could be a top 10 pick.
“This has been my dream ever since I was a little kid,” said Richardson. “It’s still not easy leaving Mizzou like this, but I know I’m ready. I really appreciate all of the support I got here at Mizzou, and I know that they will help me and my family with this next step. I’ll always be a Tiger.”
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel will miss Richardson but believes his big tackle is ready for the NFL.
“I’ve always said that when guys have opportunities like these, if they’re ready to go, then they should go,” he said. “I have no doubt that Sheldon is ready to play in the NFL, and while we’d love to have him for another year, the important thing is that this is the right decision. It will be fun watching him play on Sundays.”
Alabama will also have a group of underclassmen available in April’s draft. Tailback Eddie Lacy, offensive lineman D.J. Fluker and defensive back Dee Milliner are going to leave Tuscaloosa early, but they have national championship rings to take with them.
“I want to start by thanking the University of Alabama, Coach Saban and Coach Burns, my position coach,” Lacy said. “I want to thank all of my teammates and the teachers and academic staff here at the university; the training staff, Jeff Allen and especially Jeremy Gsell; we put in a lot of time over the years here. Of course I want to thank all of the fans. They are great fans. It has been an amazing experience here. I developed well as a player and as a person here at Alabama. As I look back at the four years, I feel that I have accomplished all of the goals that the team and I set out to accomplish.”
Tide coach Nick Saban had high praise for his departing three underclassmen.
“They have all been great people, in terms of how they have represented our organization,” Saban said. “From a personal character standpoint, these guys have been great representatives and great ambassadors for the University of Alabama and we really appreciate that.”
Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray, and receivers Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter and defensive lineman Darrington Sentimore are leaving Butch Jones’ team before Jones even had a chance to coach them.
Auburn is losing one player, but he’s a good one — defensive end Corey Lemonier.
“This was a very difficult decision for me. I prayed a lot and felt this was the best for me to pursue this opportunity,” said Lemonier. “I loved every minute of my time at Auburn and I’m very appreciative of my teammates, coaches and the entire Auburn family. It is sad to leave such a special place like Auburn, but ultimately I made a decision that was best for me and my family.”
Georgia linebackers Alec Ogletree and Jarvis Jones and nose guard Kwame Geathers are all big losses for the Bulldogs’ defense.
“This has been a difficult decision, and one that I have talked over with my family and coaches,” said Jones. “I want to thank my family, teammates, coaches and support staff and the Bulldog Nation for everything over the last three years. I will always appreciate the chance Georgiagave me after my injury at Southern Cal. There is nothing like the Bulldog fans and I will forever be proud to wear the ‘G’. I think this decision comes at the right time for me and my family and I look forward to seeing what the next level holds for me. Go Dogs!”
Texas A&M offensive lineman Luke Joeckel and defensive end Damontre Moore are heading to the NFL after leading the Aggies to an 11-2 record in their first year in the SEC.
“Luke is projected to be one of the top players selected in the overall draft,” Aggie coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We appreciate everything he has done for Aggie football and Texas A&M and wish him well in the NFL.”
“Today is a sad moment and a happy moment,”Mooresaid. “It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NFL, but I’ve loved my time representing the 12th Man and with my teammates at Texas A&M. Wherever I go, I will always be an Aggie at heart.”