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http://insider.espn.go.com/college-...ps-list-top-25-underclassmen-college-football
Ole Miss dominates list of college football's top non-draft-eligible players
Identifying the top 25 underclassmen (players ineligible for the NFL draft) is one of the toughest projects of the year. Yet again, there's no shortage of worthy candidates and we drew on our film study in addition to nominations from ESPN.com conference writers to develop a lengthy list. We then took a closer look at each of the players on tape.
In ordering the top 25, we took the following factors into account:
• While players in their second seasons who were more polished and consistent were rewarded for it, we tried to balance out a first-year player's overall talent and potential when comparing the two against each other. This is a ranking of college ability, not pro potential, but there are plenty of players on this list with the chance to play in the NFL one day, and upside still played a role in the rankings.
• When we were stuck on how to rank one player in comparison to another, we asked ourselves the following question: If you could have two or three more seasons with any of these players at the college level, who would you recruit to play for your team?
This list tends to elicit a strong response from those who feel we missed the mark; while we enjoy the debate, this is a tough list to crack. Just take a look back at the 2012 list. Seven of the 16 players who were subsequently eligible and declared for the 2014 draft went in the first round -- including first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney -- and another five went in the second round.
With all of that in mind, here is our ranking of the top 25 underclassmen in college football for 2014, listed with their current class as of the 2014 season:
1. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
2. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes
Class: True sophomore
3. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Gators
Class: True sophomore
4. A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: True sophomore
5. Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Class: True sophomore
6. Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State Seminoles
Class: True sophomore
7. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
8. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson Tigers
Class: True freshman
9. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
Class: True freshman
10. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: True freshman
11. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Volunteers
Class: True freshman
12. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Seminoles
Class: True freshman
13. Jared Goff, QB, California Golden Bears
Class: True sophomore
14. Su'a Cravens, S, USC Trojans
Class: True sophomore
15. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Tigers
Class: True sophomore
16. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
17. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Class: Redshirt freshman
18. Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
19. Scooby Wright, ILB, Arizona Wildcats
Class: True sophomore
20. Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh Panthers
Class: True sophomore
21. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Tigers
Class: True freshman
22. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Hokies
Class: True sophomore
23. Tony Conner, S, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
24. Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Class: Redshirt freshman
25. OJ Howard, TE, Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: True sophomore
Honorable mentions
Quarterback: Christian Hackenberg (Penn State)
Running back: Samaje Perine (Oklahoma), Derrick Henry (Alabama), Royce Freeman (Oregon), Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State), James Conner (Pitt)
Wide receiver: JuJu Smith (USC), Malachi Dupre (LSU), Speedy Noil (Texas A&M), Jalin Marshall (Ohio State)
Tight end: Cam Serigne (Wake Forest), Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech)
Offensive line: Roderick Johnson (Florida State)
Defensive line: Myles Garrett (Texas A&M), Lowell Lotulelei (Utah), Andrew Billings (Baylor),Kemoko Turay (Rutgers)
Linebacker: Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame), Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State), Lorenzo Carter (Georgia)
Cornerback: Cole Luke (Notre Dame)
Safety: Quin Blanding (Virginia), Jamal Adams (LSU), Trae Elston (Ole Miss)
http://insider.espn.go.com/college-...ps-list-top-25-underclassmen-college-football
Ole Miss dominates list of college football's top non-draft-eligible players
Identifying the top 25 underclassmen (players ineligible for the NFL draft) is one of the toughest projects of the year. Yet again, there's no shortage of worthy candidates and we drew on our film study in addition to nominations from ESPN.com conference writers to develop a lengthy list. We then took a closer look at each of the players on tape.
In ordering the top 25, we took the following factors into account:
• While players in their second seasons who were more polished and consistent were rewarded for it, we tried to balance out a first-year player's overall talent and potential when comparing the two against each other. This is a ranking of college ability, not pro potential, but there are plenty of players on this list with the chance to play in the NFL one day, and upside still played a role in the rankings.
• When we were stuck on how to rank one player in comparison to another, we asked ourselves the following question: If you could have two or three more seasons with any of these players at the college level, who would you recruit to play for your team?
This list tends to elicit a strong response from those who feel we missed the mark; while we enjoy the debate, this is a tough list to crack. Just take a look back at the 2012 list. Seven of the 16 players who were subsequently eligible and declared for the 2014 draft went in the first round -- including first overall pick Jadeveon Clowney -- and another five went in the second round.
With all of that in mind, here is our ranking of the top 25 underclassmen in college football for 2014, listed with their current class as of the 2014 season:
1. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
2. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes
Class: True sophomore
3. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida Gators
Class: True sophomore
4. A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: True sophomore
5. Maliek Collins, DT, Nebraska Cornhuskers
Class: True sophomore
6. Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State Seminoles
Class: True sophomore
7. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
8. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson Tigers
Class: True freshman
9. Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
Class: True freshman
10. Cam Robinson, OT, Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: True freshman
11. Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee Volunteers
Class: True freshman
12. Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State Seminoles
Class: True freshman
13. Jared Goff, QB, California Golden Bears
Class: True sophomore
14. Su'a Cravens, S, USC Trojans
Class: True sophomore
15. Tre'Davious White, CB, LSU Tigers
Class: True sophomore
16. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
17. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Class: Redshirt freshman
18. Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
19. Scooby Wright, ILB, Arizona Wildcats
Class: True sophomore
20. Tyler Boyd, WR, Pittsburgh Panthers
Class: True sophomore
21. Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU Tigers
Class: True freshman
22. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech Hokies
Class: True sophomore
23. Tony Conner, S, Ole Miss Rebels
Class: True sophomore
24. Darron Lee, OLB, Ohio State Buckeyes
Class: Redshirt freshman
25. OJ Howard, TE, Alabama Crimson Tide
Class: True sophomore
Honorable mentions
Quarterback: Christian Hackenberg (Penn State)
Running back: Samaje Perine (Oklahoma), Derrick Henry (Alabama), Royce Freeman (Oregon), Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State), James Conner (Pitt)
Wide receiver: JuJu Smith (USC), Malachi Dupre (LSU), Speedy Noil (Texas A&M), Jalin Marshall (Ohio State)
Tight end: Cam Serigne (Wake Forest), Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech)
Offensive line: Roderick Johnson (Florida State)
Defensive line: Myles Garrett (Texas A&M), Lowell Lotulelei (Utah), Andrew Billings (Baylor),Kemoko Turay (Rutgers)
Linebacker: Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame), Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State), Lorenzo Carter (Georgia)
Cornerback: Cole Luke (Notre Dame)
Safety: Quin Blanding (Virginia), Jamal Adams (LSU), Trae Elston (Ole Miss)
