The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft passed on Monday, but not before more than 120 star players opted to move on to the next phase of their career. The final list of early entrants will be released in the coming days — and some key contributors are returning for another year — but nine of the top 10 players on the CBS Sports Prospect Rankings are underclassmen who declared. Their losses will be felt across college football as teams try to replace them.
Consistent NFL producers like Alabama and Georgia are built to handle such attrition. For other programs, significant losses can be devastating.
Here are 10 programs that were hit hardest by early entries to the 2022 NFL Draft, including a handful of new-age powers faced with their first major roster tests.
The Aggies are losing Kenyon Green and DeMarvin Leal, the first pair of consensus All-Americans at Texas A&M since 2013. Additionally, tight end Jalen Wydermyer and running back Isaiah Spiller were consistent All-SEC performers. The Aggies have players in the pipeline, but coach Jimbo Fisher’s first wave of stars are cycling out of the program.
The Wolverines will be starting from scratch on defense after losing key contributors to the NFL. Chris Hinton and David Ojabo joined senior Aidan Hutchinson as defensive linemen heading to the next level, while safety Daxton Hill leaves a hole on the back end. New defensive line coach Mike Elston has work cut out for himself to find players that will fill those holes up front. The offense will have to step up in 2022 either way.
The Aztecs earned the first 12-win season in program history behind a three-pronged approach: defense, field position and running the ball. San Diego State is losing the leaders in…
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