Should have stayed in school? 8 SEC underclassmen go undrafted
Whether a result of bad advice, or simply overestimating talent in comparison to the draft class, eight SEC underclassmen went undrafted when the NFL Draft finished on Saturday evening.
However, within minutes of the final pick, reports circulated that several of these players had signed free agent contracts with NFL teams. Should they have stayed in school, or will they be motivated by a tougher path to a regular role on a pro roster?
The players are Damarea Crockett of Missouri, Daniel Lacamera of Texas A&M, Ed Alexander of LSU, Elijah Holyfield of Georgia, Quart’e Sapp of Tennessee, Ryan Pulley of Arkansas, Saivion Smith of Alabama and Tyrel Dodson of Texas A&M.
Holyfield was arguably the biggest surprise in this group as the former Georgia running back had 1,018 yards rushing and seven touchdowns last season. He was a permanent captain for the 2018 season, and had a career-high 115 yards against Kentucky the week after a career-high 20 carries against Florida.
Holyfield quickly signed as a free agent with the Carolina Panthers.
The NFL draft is over and 49 of the 144 underclassmen who went pro were not selected. Here's the list. pic.twitter.com/O8d2WBh19y
— Max Olson (@max_olson) April 27, 2019
I wish there were some way for these kids to get another crack at some eligibility. Can someone explain why they don’t? I don’t understand the logic why they have to be denied for overestimating their odds at 20 years old. A risk that keeps on taking.
I totally agree unless they accepted some dough from an agent. Which I would think happens often.
I think most of them are done with school anyway. They will take their chances as UFA’s, and someone will give them an opportunity to make a roster.
Not sure if you saw my other reply, so I’ll repeat: reliable and unbiased weren’t interchangeable.
You trolled me, I guess this is me trolling you, but I’ll drop it now. Hopefully we can have reasonable discussions in the future.
I have no idea what you are talking about, but ok. I surely didn’t troll you, just disagreed with you, and still do when it comes to reliable or unbiased. Phrase it however you want. I still believe the news media has limited credibility at best. You can believe whatever you like. It’s you that keeps following me around bringing up this unrelated story. I already said you weren’t going to change my mind and I am not going to change yours. That was days ago, but you just keep going.
I guess if it wasn’t deliberate, then neither of us trolled. Good to hear. It saddens me that we can’t have a nuanced or reasonable discussion about this, as I do try to keep an open mind. But I’ll accept that you want to keep your opinion and I’m ready to move on.
Cool. It’s a sports website. I’d like to keep it that way.
Sarge, you need to check your meds. You tend to piss off a lot of people.
One factor might be that if the NFL had to deal with hundreds of extra juniors every year, they would probably change their rules and might even prevent all early entries. If every player who left early and didn’t get drafted could come back, most juniors might enter the draft. Perhaps some who thought they could go from round 4 to round 1 would return, but the influx of players demanding evaluation could diminish the quality of the predictions they receive, so presumably the majority of juniors would enter the draft.
Nevertheless, I think basketball is doing this, so maybe football just needs a big, high-profile recruiting scandal?
It breaks my heart. I see kids who have physical gifts and pi$$ it away with drugs or pop-culture egos. I see kids with perhaps fewer physical gifts but with a great work ethic who can’t get ahead because of a flawed system wrapped in a billionaire business model. Even failed astronauts can still go back and fly jets.
I don’t think we can make any system perfect, but I also think we’ll never know if we never try. I do think it’s an issue, and I do hope they’re working on it.
I’m not sure, but I think the NCAA has/will have a requirement that scholarship athletes can return to finish their degree on scholarship (not sure about the details are), which might not be a perfect solution, but could help some of these people.
They are given a draft evaluation. This is different from mock drafts and what the media thinks. They take whatever info they want a make a decision. If you quit a job thinking you have another one do get your job back because the other the other didn’t materialize? They could have stayed but they didn’t.
That’s a very good point and very true. Yet being turned away does not preclude one from seeking work or further education in the same line of work like it does in this case. This is a limited workforce. The draft is a summer internship that didn’t work out. They didn’t get snatch-hired after all. Maybe they should still get to go back rather than work at Micky-D’s, maybe? I don’t know.
It’s not like they are all going home now. Chances are most of these guys will still sign with a team at some point, most of them already have.
You would think the so-called big time athletes would get some good advise? But if you declare and then fall on your sword at the combine. There’s no help!
In the case of Elijah at the time it wasn’t a bad decision. Before his awful 40 time I had seen him projected as high as the late 2nd rd. It sucks for him, but I’m sure he will stick around the league for a few years.
moral to the story : know your 40 time BEFORE you declare. he was faster as a recruit? Either those times are BS or he got slower? When millions of dollars on the line. WTF?
I seriously doubt he got slower in college. But I agree with him when he said speed isn’t everything, even in the NFL. My guess is he will get a shot with someone
Crockett will get a shot also, but many athletes just have a lot of trouble keeping the mental set needed for goal setting and performance, plus health. Crockett has a punish the tackler style and this will not work in the NFL
Yeah, here’s a lesson: Earn 1,300 career yards in the SEC and think you can get yourself drafted?! Think again. Those are garbage stats, even if he did have ONE 1,000 season. I think he thought his name was worth more than his output. I seriously do hope he can fight through this and eventually produce. But, lesson to other kids, you’ve got to produce either rediculous numbers, or you’ve got to produce each and every season at a high level.
It worked well for Jacobs.
Most of these players will all be working for Vince McMahon in the near future.
Ha! Winner.
I still cant believe Ryan pulley didnt get drafted. Hes been one of the most consistent DB’s in the SEC over the past 2 years. He was the only person we KNEW wouldnt give up big plays
Pretty sure no one here knows who that is.
How do you not know who he is?! He was one of the most consistent DBs in the SEC and played for a totally relevant team. Wal-Mart was started there, you know
Maybe another productive year at Missouri would have paid off for Crockett in 2020; although, potential injuries do pose a significant risk.
I don’t think Crockett figured he’d get drafted either now or later. But with his injuries and the pounding on his body, he probably thought his best chance of making a team as a free agent was to go now while he’s healthy.
It sucks, and I wished they could return to school but if they allowed that every Jr would be testing the waters…
Dodson leaving was a surprise to most Aggies. I’ve heard he was simply ready to move on and take his chances. He has signed with Buffalo, so he’ll get his chance.
LaCamera graduated and had another year of eligibility, but probably wasn’t going to see much playing time as a backup kicker. He’s signed with Jacksonville.
NFL could do something where every junior is eligible to be drafted and both sides can either agree to sign or send them back to college for another year
That would force the ncaa to change the recruiting rules. How would a school know how many kids they could sign if they don’t know how many people are on their roster until the end of May or so.
There is a lot that happens between declaring for the draft and the actual draft.
They hire agents and start to receive bennies which clouds up the amateur/professional.
Students also start dedicating time to getting drafted which takes away from academics. They will very likely fall behind some.
Scholarships might have to be held up for someone that won’t be playing for the school if they get drafted.
They will miss spring training.
Holyfield was my biggest shock. I thought he was 3rd round RB for sure. He should of stayed. Crocket was not that big of surprise. He was a good back, but wasn’t really a top 3 round back. Sapp at Tennessee for sure should of stayed. Good LB, but not great. Might, might make a practice squad. Pulley out of Arkansas and Smith out of Bama was in a CB heavy draft. Each of these young men was lead wrong and should of stayed. Sad really.
Holyfield should have just spent more time training for the 40 yard dash.
On the bright side, this number is probably down from previous years. Haven’t done the research, but Auburn usually has 2 or 3 it seems. The change in transfer rules is giving players an option instead of just quitting school and rolling the dice.