Underclassmen had until January 15 to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft. The list of 74 underclassmen accepted by the NFL, which can be found below, was released Monday.
The total of 74 players represents a 24.5 decrease from 2014 when 98 players were granted special eligibility to enter the NFL Draft. It is the first time since 2009 that the number has dropped from the previous year since 2009.
Why? The NFL instituted new measures with the draft advisory board to help players make more informed decisions after 45 early entrants went undrafted last year. First, five players from a school can submit for a draft grade from the advisory board. A school can ask for more if the talent warrants it, but there was previously no cap. Second, the draft grades were streamlined from five categories to three - first-round pick, second-round pick or neither - to tell prospects that they will either be selected high or they should go back to school.
This list also includes 10 players who had graduated with college football eligibility remaining. The 84 players are separated by position.
The 2015 NFL Draft begins Thursday, April 30 at 8 PM and will take place at the Auditorium Theater of Roosevelt University in Chicago.
QUARTERBACKS (3)
Brett Hundley, UCLA
Marcus Mariota, Oregon
Jameis Winston, Florida State
RUNNING BACKS (14)
Jay Ajayi, Boise State
Javorius "Buck" Allen, USC
B.J. Catalon, TCU
Tevin Coleman, Indiana
Mike Davis, South Carolina
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin
Todd Gurley, Georgia
Dee Hart, Colorado State
Braylon Heard, Kentucky
Duke Johnson, Miami
Matt Jones, Florida
Josh Robinson, Mississippi State
Trey Williams, Texas A&M
T.J. Yeldon, Alabama
WIDE RECEIVERS (16)
Nelson Agholor, USC
Sammie Coates, Auburn
Amari Cooper, Alabama
DaVaris Daniels, Notre Dame
Stefon Diggs, Maryland
Zach D'Orazio, Akron
George Farmer, USC
Devin Funchess, Michigan
Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma
Deontay Greenberry, Houston
Chris Harper, California
Nigel King, Kansas
Breshad Perriman, Central Florida
Jaquel Pitts, Trinity International
Jaelen Strong, Arizona State
Tacoi Sumler, Appalachian State
TIGHT ENDS (4)
Jesse James, Penn State
Tyler Kroft, Rutgers
Jean Sifrin, Massachusetts
Maxx Williams, Minnesota
TACKLES (6)
Ereck Flowers, Miami
D.J. Humphries, Florida
Patrick Miller, Auburn
Andrus Peat, Stanford
Jeremiah Poutasi, Utah
Donovan Smith, Penn State
GUARDS (1)
Tyler Moore, Florida
DEFENSIVE ENDS (9)
Arik Armstead, Oregon
Deion Barnes, Penn State
Mario Edwards, Florida State
Dante Fowler, Florida
Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Eli Harold, Virginia
Danielle Hunter, LSU
Shane Ray, Missouri
Leonard Williams, USC
DEFENSIVE TACKLES (9)
Malcom Brown, Texas
Xavier Cooper, Washington State
Christian Covington, Rice
Eddie Goldman, Florida State
David Irving, Iowa State
Ellis McCarthy, UCLA
Rakeem Nunez-Roches, Southern Miss
Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma
Darius Philon, Arkansas
LINEBACKERS (6)
Kwon Alexander, LSU
Max Flores, Northern Colorado
Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State
Darien Rankin, North Carolina
Shaq Thompson, LB, Washington
Max Valles, Virginia
DEFENSIVE BACKS (14)
Alex Carter, Stanford
Jalen Collins, LSU
Landon Collins, Alabama
Ronald Darby, Florida State
Lorenzo Doss, Tulane
Durell Eskridge, Syracuse
Charles Gaines, Louisville
Jacoby Glenn, UCF
Chris Hackett, TCU
Gerod Holliman, Louisville
Marcus Peters, Washington
James Sample, Louisville
Trae Waynes, Michigan State
P.J. Williams, Florida State
SPECIALISTS (2)
Bradley Pinion, P, Clemson
Easton Wahlstrom, LS, Arizona State
