LSU junior cornerback Jalen Collins will leave the program and enter the NFL draft following the Music City Bowl, Yahoo! Sports reported Friday.

The silver lining: it sounds like standout DE Danielle Hunter will return for his senior season.

Collins, 6-foot-2, 198 pounds, fits the trend of bigger, stronger NFL cornerbacks. He finished the regular season with 33 tackles, 10 passes defensed and one interception. Judging by prominent NFL draft analysts, Collins could be a second- or third-round pick if he does turn pro.

LSU has lost 16 underclassmen to the NFL the last two seasons. Offensive linemen Jerald Hawkins and Vadal Alexander, linebacker Kwon Alexander and safety Jalen Mills also could consider the NFL.

Travin Dural already has stated he’ll return to LSU in 2015.

Hunter, meanwhile, would break a trend of talented Tigers defensive linemen leaving early. He leads the team with 12.0 tackles for loss to go along with 64 tackles. The Advocate speculated he could be the second LSU player drafted behind offensive tackle La’el Collins, should he make himself eligible.

“He’s got the natural pass rushing, long arms and bend,” NFL draft consultant Chris Landry said, according to Times-Picayune. “I like him a lot. I think he’s helped himself a lot. He’s really, really active. He’s got more natural ability than (LSU end Jermauria) Rasco. He’s got those arms that can cause a lot of problems, bat balls down and the ability to leverage. He’s really gotten a lot better.

“I don’t know him enough to know his situation. I’m not saying he’s a top 10 pick but he’s certainly a guy who I would think would go in the second round or so. I think he’s pretty good.

“He’ll have to get a little bit stronger for the pro game. It’s those long arms, it’s hard to block guys like that because you can’t get into their chest. They extend and continue to move.”