Clock ticking for underclassmen … The deadline for underclassmen planning on entering the 2020 draft to apply to the NFL for early entry is rapidly approaching. Indeed, juniors and redshirt sophomores who want to enter the draft must file paperwork with the league by the end of business on Friday, the 17th. Note that we, along with several other media sources, had been incorrectly quoting the deadline date as January 20th. That in fact is the deadline for underclassmen who had applied to the draft to withdraw their application if they had not signed with an agent or otherwise accepted any improper benefits. In fact, it appears that most underclassmen intending to go pro this winter have already made their intentions known, as a total of almost 100 juniors and redshirt sophs have indicated in one way or another that they will be entering this year’s draft. Here is the full list of underclassmen to have declared to date. However, the NFL is still waiting to hear from a number of prominent underclassmen to make their intentions known, including Oklahoma State RB Chuba Hubbard; OTs Tristan Wirfs of Iowa and USC’s Austin Jackson; Iowa DE AJ Epenesa; and Baylor DT James Lynch; Of course, the NFL is also waiting on word from several top prospects from Clemson and LSU, the two college playoff finalists who’ll meet for the national title in New Orleans later this evening including Clemson RB Travis Etienne, WR Tee Higgins, LB Isaiah Simmons and CB AJ Terrell, along with LSU safety Grant Delpit, OLB K’Lavon Chaisson and WR Justin Jefferson. Stay tuned!
