Gone, but Replacements on the Way

Here is the list of early entries for the NFL draft, scheduled for April 28-29 in New York City. A notable loss will be Georgia Tech's sensational receiver, Calvin Johnson, who ranks at or near the top of many a draft list. Two interesting names on the list: Ramonce Taylor, who was booted off the Texas team after legal trouble, and Gary Russell, who left Minnesota because he was academically ineligible. ... Generally, we can't fault players for leaving early, given that the sport is such a meat-grinder and players are not getting paid despite helping universities and the NCAA earn millions off "amateur " athletics. But that's a rant for another day. What is remarkable is that despite the annual flood of early departures, the level of play in college football continues to rise.

Jon Abbate, lb, junior, Wake Forest
Jamaal Anderson, de, junior, Arkansas
Antwan Applewhite, de, junior, San Diego State
Jon Beason, lb, junior, Miami
Ahmad Bradshaw, rb, junior, Marshall

Alan Branch, dt, junior, Michigan
Michael Bush, rb, junior, Louisville
Keenan Carter, nt, junior, Virginia
Stanley Doughty, dt, junior, South Carolina
C.J. Gaddis, cb, junior, Clemson

Ted Ginn Jr., wr, junior, Ohio State
Anthony Gonzalez, wr, junior, Ohio State
Chris Henry, rb, junior, Arizona
Chris Houston, cb, junior, Arkansas
Jason Jack, de, junior, Texas A&M

Brandon Jackson, rb, junior, Nebraska
Dwayne Jarrett, wr, junior, USC
Calvin Johnson, wr, junior, Georgia Tech
Charles Johnson, de, junior, Georgia
Rory Johnson, lb, junior, Mississippi

Marshawn Lynch, rb, junior, California
Robert Meachem, wr, junior, Tennessee
Zach Miller, te, junior, Arizona State
Jarvis Moss, de, junior, Florida
Reggie Nelson, s, junior, Florida

Greg Olsen, te, junior, Miami
Adrian Peterson, rb, junior, Oklahoma
Antonio Pittman, rb, junior, Ohio State
Darrelle Revis, cb, junior, Pittsburgh
Sidney Rice, wr, sophomore, South Carolina

Gary Russell, rb, junior, Minnesota
JaMarcus Russell, qb, junior, Louisiana State
Brandon Siler, lb, junior, Florida
Ryan Smith, de, junior, Florida
Brock Stratton, lb, junior, Texas Tech

Ramonce Taylor, rb, junior, Texas
Lawrence Timmons, lb, junior, Florida State
Darius Walker, rb, junior, Notre Dame
Danny Ware, rb, junior, Georgia
Eric Wright, db, junior, Nevada Las Vegas