Concluding the college football season with the Clemson Tigers edging out powerhouse Alabama Crimson Tide for a National Championship title, it is time to take notice of which underclassmen stay in college or declare for the 2017 NFL Draft.

Game changing running backs Christian McCaffrey (Stanford) and Leonard Fournette (LSU) both declared and made controversial decisions to take a seat for their team’s bowl game in order to avoid injury and prepare for the draft process. Both prospects have undeniable talent and should find themselves fall within the first two rounds. Oklahoma’s running back Joe Mixon also declared. He has top two round talent, but his red flags due to his off-the-field domestic violence issues steepened his draft stock tremendously. There have been talks that Mixon is viewed as too much of a risk and won’t even be drafted.

Michigan’s do-it-all Jabrill Peppers and Notre Dame’s Quarterback DeShone Kizer have yet to make a decision, but both are expected to turn pro. Peppers can be a top 10 talent and Kizer can be a top three quarterback available in this year’s draft. The consensus top pick defensive end Myles Garrett (Texas A&M) is also expected to declare for the draft. On the flip side, Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma) and J.T. Barrett (Ohio State) plan on continuing their collegiate stardom for another year, electing to stay in school.

Other notables:

QB DeShaun Watson (Clemson) Declared, Grade: Round 1

QB Mitch Trubisky (North Carolina) Declared, Grade: Round 1

RB Nick Chubb (Georgia) Staying in School

RB Dalvin Cook (Florida State) Declared, Grade: Round 1

RB Elijah Hood (North Carolina) Declared, Grade: Round 5

WR Mike Williams (Clemson) Declared, Grade: Early Round 1

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (USC) Declared, Grade: Early Round 3

WR James Washington (Oklahoma State) Staying in School

OT Cam Robinson (Alabama) Declared, Grade: Round 1

DT Maurice Hurst (Michigan) Staying in School

OLB T.J. Watt (Wisconsin) Declared, Grade: Round 2

CB Teez Tabor (Florida) Declared, Grade: Early Round 1
Once the underclassmen come to their decisions, they can begin training for their Pro Day and the NFL Combine in Indianapolis to showcase their skills to all 32 NFL teams.

* photo via Google Images under the Creative Commons license