Clock ticking for underclassmen … Juniors and redshirt sophomores thinking of entering the 2022 draft have until the end of business in New York on January 17th to file paperwork with the NFL in order to be eligible for this year’s draft. So far, almost 60 underclassmen have in fact indicated in one way or another that they will be turning pro this winter, although there are still quite a number who have yet to be heard from including small armies from both Alabama and Georgia which face each other in next week’s national championship game. In fact, however, the current number of underclassmen who have declared is barely over half the total at this time last year; indeed, at this time last year, over 100 underclassmen had already declared for the draft. Comparing the two years, though, is complicated by the fact that everyone in college was granted an extra year of eligibility for the partial loss of the 2020 season. Once the January 17th deadline passes, those underclassmen who did apply to the league for early entry to the 2022 draft will have the usual 72 hour window of opportunity to withdraw their names. There is a second deadline coming up on March 4th(?) by which time any current seniors who wish to take advantage of the NCAA’s ‘free’ year of eligibility and return to school need to declare that intention. For the record, just 115 days until the picks start coming off the board at the 2022 draft! Hang in there guys!!
