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15 Players Who Should Have Declared For the 2015 NFL Draft

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15 Players Who Should Have Declared For the 2015 NFL Draft

Cardale Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes, 2015 NFL Draft
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You can never knock a collegiate football player for wanting to continue his education. With that being said, it’s hard to put another year of football on your body when you can potentially be making millions in the NFL. The following 15 players may have benefited from declaring early as opposed to risking injury or the possibility of falling draft stock.

15. Travin Dural

Travin Dural, LSU Tigers
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15. Travin Dural

Travin Dural, LSU Tigers
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After the rookie seasons former LSU Tiger receivers had in 2014, it’s hard not to look at any coming out in 2015. With Dural’s decision to stick around for another season, NFL teams won’t have that luxury. Dural proved to be a playmaker after scoring seven touchdowns and accumulating 758 yards on just 37 catches.

14. Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams, Arkansas Razorbacks
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14. Jonathan Williams

Jonathan Williams, Arkansas Razorbacks
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Williams didn’t shatter any records like Melvin Gordon, but his 12 touchdowns and 1,100-plus rushing yards are appealing. The hard part for backs like Williams is the fear of what happened to Todd Gurley this season -- injury your knee and fear your stock falling next season. While Williams’ stock should only rise, that fear of not knowing is hard to face.

13. Reggie Ragland

Reggie Ragland, Alabama Crimson Tide
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13. Reggie Ragland

Reggie Ragland, Alabama Crimson Tide
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The linebacker talent that comes out of the University of Alabama is no secret, and Ragland may be the next in line. Had Ragland declared this season he may have slipped himself into the first round with a solid workout at the combine and pro day. He’ll need an All-American type of season to move up the board in 2015.

12. Cody Kessler

Cody Kessler, USC Trojans
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12. Cody Kessler

Cody Kessler, USC Trojans
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Kessler is a quarterback who has an extremely bright future ahead of him and may have benefited immensely by declaring this season. His size is similar to that of a Drew Brees, but his production (39 touchdowns, five interceptions, 69 percent completion) in a pro-style offense puts him as a top-three quarterback in this year's class.

11. Dadi Nicolas

Dadi Nicolas, Virginia Tech Hokies
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11. Dadi Nicolas

Dadi Nicolas, Virginia Tech Hokies
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Nicolas is regarded as one of the best defensive ends in the ACC and rightfully so; after finishing the 2014 season with 17.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks, there’s no doubt Nicolas could have gone early on day two. Unless he can add more muscle, his ceiling may be tapped so it’s unlikely he cracks the first round next year.

10. Avery Young

Avery Young, Auburn Tigers
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10. Avery Young

Avery Young, Auburn Tigers
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After switching between left guard and right tackle in 2014, Young (brother of Willie Young of the Chicago Bears) mulled the thought of declaring before finally deciding to return to Auburn for 2015. He states he wants to stay at guard, and with the lack of talent at the position in this year’s class, he may be missing out due to a position of need.

9. Spencer Drango

Spencer Drango, Baylor Bears
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9. Spencer Drango

Spencer Drango, Baylor Bears
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Tackles are a hot commodity these days in the NFL. The last few years it seems as if more and more quarterbacks are taking hits as not only the talent at the tackle position is diminishing but the offensive line as a whole. Baylor had a great season in large part to Drangos’ production.

8. Leonard Floyd

Leonard Floyd, Georgia Bulldogs
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8. Leonard Floyd

Leonard Floyd, Georgia Bulldogs
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Floyd has the perfect size to play outside linebacker in today's NFL. He has the ability to make tackles from sideline-to-sideline on a consistent basis. It's safe to say the Georgia linebacking corps are going to be one of the best in the nation heading into the 2015 season.

7. D.J. Foster

D.J. Foster, Arizona State Sun Devils
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7. D.J. Foster

D.J. Foster, Arizona State Sun Devils
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Foster, just like Williams, should have declared on the sole fact that an injury in college could be costly. But he also must be applauded for stating that he didn’t want to leave without a diploma. After a breakout season for Arizona State, Foster proved to be a threat in the backfield and in the slot. NFL teams would have loved to have a shot at his versatility this season.

6. Connor Cook

Connor Cook, Michigan State Spartans
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6. Connor Cook

Connor Cook, Michigan State Spartans
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Like Kessler, Cook is a pro-style quarterback who could be in the talk as one of the best quarterbacks in this year’s class. He doesn’t put up crazy stats like a Marcus Mariota, but his size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) is the exact mold that NFL teams are looking for at the position. If he struggles at all in 2015, he may turn teams off and force them to take a flier based solely on size.

5. Shilique Calhoun

Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Spartans
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5. Shilique Calhoun

Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Spartans
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Had Calhoun declared he may have been a sure first-rounder. Risking his body for another year in college is questionable when he has millions on the table waiting for him right now. It’ll be a boom-or-bust situation, either rising into the top 10 in next year's draft or free falling.

4. Roberto Aguayo

Roberto Aguayo, Florida State Seminoles
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4. Roberto Aguayo

Roberto Aguayo, Florida State Seminoles
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Aguayo has been one of the best kickers in college football since he first stepped onto the field in 2013. Through the past two seasons, the Lou Groza Award winner has made 48-of-52 field goals and no missed PATs. Had he declared there’s no doubt a kicker-hungry team would have snagged Aguayo as high as the third round. Only a spectacular season will improve his stock.

3. Shawn Oakman

Shawn Oakman, Baylor Bears
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3. Shawn Oakman

Shawn Oakman, Baylor Bears
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Oakman became an intriguing prospect after many noticed his ridiculous stature during the coin toss of the Cotton Bowl. Standing at 6-foot-9 and weighing in at 280 pounds, Oakman warrants high value just based on his size. Had he declared and had a great combine, his stock may have shot up high into the first round.

2. Cardale Jones

Cardale Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes
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2. Cardale Jones

Cardale Jones, Ohio State Buckeyes
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Everyone is now familiar with the Cinderella story that is Cardale Jones of the Ohio State University. From third-string quarterback to national champion, Jones has more hype on his side than anyone in recent memory. He shouldn’t have committed solely because of ability but more so the fact that he might not even be a starting collegiate quarterback in 2015.

1. Ronnie Stanley

Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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1. Ronnie Stanley

Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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Before Stanley stated that he would be returning to South Bend for his senior season, many had him going in the top 15. You usually don’t see tackles losing out by returning when one bad game could cost Stanley next season.

Tyler Olson is an NFL and Miami Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com.  Follow him on Twitter @to2471, like him on Facebook, and connect with him on Google.

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