With the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement yet to be negotiated, many college underclassmen are in limbo regarding early entry into the draft.
The deadline for college football underclassmen to declare for the NFL draft is January 15. Those players declaring for early entry into the draft have only three days to withdraw their application.
No one believes the NFL and the players association will have a new collective bargaining agreement hammered out before then.
While many NFL insiders think the owners and players will eventually work out a deal, nothing is guaranteed. The possibility exists that the owners could lock out the players if a new CBA isn’t negotiated.
If that scenario becomes reality, those players declaring for early entry into the draft could find themselves in limbo for more than a year.
The NFL and NCAA should work together this year to offer eligible underclassmen more flexibility than the current early entry deadlines provide.
If the league doesn’t have a new CBA in place by the time the draft rolls around in April, then those underclassmen that haven’t hired an agent should be allowed the opportunity to return to school.
In a year where so much uncertainty surrounds the future of the NFL’s labor situation, college underclassmen shouldn’t be penalized for making career decisions that could prevent them from playing for more than a year.
As of January 3, 11 underclassmen have declared they will enter the NFL draft. Those players are:
Shane Vereen – California
Jordan Todman – Connecticut
A.J. Green – Georgia
Torrey Smith – Maryland
Jerrell Powe – Ole Miss
Tori Gurley – South Carolina
Jurrell Casey – Southern California
Tyron Smith – Southern California
DeAndre Brown – Southern Mississippi
Muhammad Wilkerson – Temple
Aaron Williams – Texas
