mollyfamwatMonday was the deadline for early admission to NFL 2021, so we now have a better idea of who will stay or leave and which schools will be most affected.
The NCAA has approved an admission freeze for all fall athletes, giving seniors the chance to return for an additional season after the 2020 season in lieu of professional sports. These old people are up to a year old. March to decide if they will participate in the project, although some of them have already decided and are involved in the process.
Some teams will be a more obvious exception here. Clemson, for example, is in the middle of the pack and isn’t even on the list despite great starts from QB Trevor Lawrence and RB Travis Etienne. But the Tigers will be the best team in 2021.
That said, some of the most notable winners and losers here:
Winner
Desmond Ridder returns to Cincinnati after the 2020 season with 2,296 passing yards and 19 touchdowns against six interceptions. He also ran for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns. Justin Casterline/Getty Images
Cincinnati bearing
Quarterback Desmond Ridder is back after a solid junior campaign in which Cincinnati emerged as the best school in Group 5 that we saw in the college football playoffs, so many were upset that the Bearcats were not in the top 4. The prospect completed 66.2% of his passes for 2,296 yards with 19 touchdowns against six interceptions. He also ran for 592 yards and 12 touchdowns. Defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman left for Notre Dame earlier this month, but with the return of seven defensive players, Cincinnati should be in good shape by 2021.
Indiana Hoosiers
The Hoosiers’ only early addition is the RB Stevie Scott III. So they’re going to rehire him in 2021. The 2020 season is one that few in Bloomington will soon forget, unless the Hoosiers can continue and surpass that success in 2021. The Hoosiers return 10 regulars on defense and nine on offense, including one of the Big Ten’s top wide receivers, senior Ty Fryfogle. Indiana will have a healthy back, Michael Penix Jr. and will also have a big chip on their shoulders all season long after being selected to compete in the Big Ten Championship or the New Year’s Six Bowl.
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Iowa Cyclones
Few teams have had a better offseason than Iowa. After going 9-3 in 2020 and beating Oregon 34-17 at the Fiesta Bowl, head coach Matt Campbell has not agreed to another college or professional coaching position, even though he is one of the most interesting candidates on the market. The other good news for the Cyclones is the return of quarterback Brock Purdy, who was one of only two quarterbacks to pass for at least 3,900 yards, 35 touchdowns and fewer than 10 picks in 2019 (along with Joe Burrow). In 2020, Purdy had 2,750 rushing yards, 382 running yards and 24 touchdowns. He will join running back Breece Hall, who finished with nearly 1,600 yards and 21 touchdowns, and baseline star Charlie Kolar in another attempt to win the Big 12 title. Ice cream on the cake? Sean Foster, the senior left fielder, took advantage of the extra year of eligibility.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Justin Fields, Sean Wade and Wyatt Davis were all players Ohio State fans expected to lose on Monday, with the only surprise being Tommy Togiai’s defensive tackle. However, the Buckeyes are on the winning side with the return of WR Chris Olave and TE Jeremy Ruckert. Keeping these weapons in the passing game is a big challenge for the new starting quarterback next season. Another piece of good news: LT Thayer Munford and BC Marcus Williamson will use this extra year to complete another season in Ohio. The Buckeyes are one of the few college football teams that don’t make fans sweat when the guys come in for the draft; it’s just what they do. But if you have a few left, those small victories make sense.
Washington Huskies
The Jimmy Lake team had no surprises at the deadline. CB Elijah Molden, who entered the season as one of the best defenders in the conference, joins Joe Trion and Levi Onwuzurika, who both moved to the preseason. Otherwise, a team that lost 3-1 in a dismal and limited Pac-12 season will find much of its talent and healthy rivalry returning with returning starter Dylan Morris, who completed 60.9 percent of his passes for 897 yards with four touchdowns and three picks; Sam Huard, the No. 1 pick on ESPN’s 2021 300 list; and Patrick O’Brien, who transferred from the University of Colorado. The Pac-12’s inconsistent performance makes it possible for Lake and Washington to make progress in this area.
Loser
JT Daniels can help Georgia make another offensive leap in 2021. Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Sportswire Icon
Alabama Crimson Tide
Two things may be true about Red Tide: The first is that not only do they lose the best talent they’ve ever had, but it’s a great experience even for them. As for the initial additions, Alabama says goodbye to QB Mac Jones, LB Dylan Moses, CB Patrick Surtain II, WR Jaylen Waddle and DT Christian Barmore. Some seniors are leaving the club, although they are eligible to play another year, including DeVonta Smith, winner of the Heisman Trophy. The second is that Alabama will be more than fine with plenty of future NFL talent behind those who have recently passed. It’s an Alabama screenplay by Nick Saban. Sending offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian to Texas is no small task, especially given Alabama’s methodical defense. But if history is anything to go by, Bill O’Brien will join the group and will be the final beneficiary of Saban’s career change before he also leaves Tuscaloosa for another gig. But right now Alabama is losing momentum due to the mass exodus of talent.
Bulldogs of Georgia
Compared to last year, everything in Georgia has been turned upside down. In 2020, the Bulldogs had five rookies on offense, which set them up for defeat. This time it was key defenders who finished in the defensive JV+, including linebacker Azez Ojulari and cornerbacks Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes. These losses come on top of the departures of DB seniors DJ Daniel, LB Monty Rice, DE Jermaine Johnson, S Richard LeConte and DE Malik Herring. The good news for Georgia is that the Bulldogs are one of the best recruiting teams in college football since the arrival of Kirby Smart, and they have defensive replacements that could well replace Adam Anderson, Nolan Smith and Quay Walker. JT Daniels’ offense made the Bulldogs look like a completely different team at the end of the year, and they should leap forward again in 2021. Regardless of the loss to AGU, the game must be played on the 4th. September against Clemson in Charlotte, N.C., will be fun.
Trojans USC
Les Troyens sont les premiers à partir de n’importe quelle équipe du FBS, et c’est un groupe talentueux du CB Elijah Griffin, S Talanoa Hufanga, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, DT Jay Tufele, DT Marlon Tuipulotu en OT Alijah Vera-Tucker. They also lose WR Tyler Vaughns, who is out for another year, but the Trojans have depth at that position with Drake London and former five-star recruit Bruce McCoy ready to take on senior duties. If you’re a USC fan looking for something positive, the Trojans are probably producing NFL talent again.
Hurricanes in Miami
Hurricanes lose a lot of energy as they pass. On defense, Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Russo are among the top three in Miami (TE Brevin Jordan is third). As a result, the Hurricanes could turn to newcomer Chantz Williams (No. 8 DE in the 2020 class) and Tennessee transfer Deandre Johnson to make up for lost production. Phillips had 15.5 lost-time tackles and eight sacks in 2020. Russo was waived for the 2020 season after making 19.5 lost time tackles, 15.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as a sophomore in 2019. Russo’s replacement, Quincy Roche, also announced his NFL entrance after making 14.5 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles this year. Miami’s defense finished the 2020 season by allowing 1,196 yards of offense and 99 points in its last two games, which will be a problem in the offseason.
Texas Longhorns
New head coach Steve Sarkisian will inherit the talent in Texas, and the Longhorns have had more trouble developing their talent than getting it lately. Texas is one of the strongest teams in the Big 12, however, as WRs Brennan Eagles, DE Joseph Ossai, S Caden Sterns and OT Samuel Cosmi have decided to go pro. Cosmey, Ossai and Stearns are all in Mel Piper’s top 5, so no surprise there, and the Longhorns will feel these losses next season. But in a top 10 wider than Kiper’s, the Eagles didn’t make the list after barely improving their stock in the lockout-shortened 2020 season. A year of experience in Sarkisian’s offense could have done him good – ask anyone who wore the Alabama uniform this season.
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