ESPN NFL

The unofficial count of underclassmen that elected to forgo their collegiate eligibility in order to make themselves available for the upcoming NFL draft is 42. There are still several high-profile underclassmen that still have yet to make their intentions public, including Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams, Texas DT Rodrique Wright, Arizona State WR Derek Hagan, and Iowa LBs Abdul Hodge and Chad Greenway. The league office will make the list official early this week but even then it will be subject to change because underclassmen that officially applied have until January 19th to withdraw their application.

QB Matt Leinart's decision to return to USC for the 2005 season garnered all the attention over the weekend but there were other potential Day 1 prospects such as Auburn OT Marcus McNeill, LSU OT Andrew Whitworth, UCLA LB Spencer Havner and Alabama LBs DeMeco Ryans and Fred Roach that also chose school over the paycheck.

On the flip side, Notre Dame DE Justin Tuck, Minnesota RB Marion Barber III, Oklahoma DS Brodney Pool and USC ILB Lofa Tatupu headlined a group of late underclassmen additions to the 2005 NFL draft.

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider