Fournette would be the first running back drafted if he were eligible for the 2016 draft, and he would have been drafted if he’d been eligible for this year’s draft as well. Asked about Fournette this week, Miles acknowledged that there are some players good enough that they could get drafted if they turned pro after their freshman seasons, as basketball players routinely do.

 

“I think that there’s probably guys that could enter the draft just like basketball, one and out,” Miles said. “I think there’s a style of athlete that can do that. But I think they’re rare because in football, with maturity and strength, it really adds to their worth in what is the next level and the next league.”

 

A fairer system would be the NFL simply allowing players to declare for the draft whenever they feel ready, and the NCAA allowing players to return to college football if they declare for the draft but are not selected. A player like Fournette, who would have been a high pick after his freshman year, shouldn’t be forced to play for free through his junior year. And the dozens of players who declare early for the draft but end up going undrafted shouldn’t be barred from finishing their college eligibility.

 

But the NFL and the NCAA are both making plenty of money under the current system, which is why they’re unlikely to change. Even if it’s not the fairest system for the players.

 

Les Miles says some freshmen are good enough to go to the NFL | ProFootballTalk

 

Who cares about players when the NFL and the NCAA are making big money.

In all actuality that is the perfect compromise. Declare for the draft, if you don't get picked go back to college with your remaining eligibility on the table. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN IMPLEMENTED DECADES AGO?!?!?!?!?!?

In all actuality that is the perfect compromise. Declare for the draft, if you don't get picked go back to college with your remaining eligibility on the table. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN IMPLEMENTED DECADES AGO?!?!?!?!?!?

 

Because colleges can't recruit top level guys if they don't know who will be back. Think of it this way, how does UK seriously recruit a kid to play tailback not knowing if Boom Williams will get drafted or not. If you're the HS kid and want to play immediately, you get that chance if he sticks in the pro's but are relegated to a year (or two) as a back up if he comes back.

Putting your name in the draft allows HS kids to know there is an opportunity there. The only real solution would be to push back signing day till after the draft or allow HS kids to bail on signed commits and that should never happen. Rosters would be a nightmare and 'stealing' kids would be crazy.

Picked where though? Only first round? Anywhere in the draft? Maybe a kid declares, everyone is telling him he should go 2nd round so he declares based on that, and he goes late 5th. Can he come back or is he stuck? As we know most 5th rounders' don't make the league. So you now have a kid who should be a sophomore in college and his football career is over in this scenario.

If you make it an option to enter the draft "early," if that player is drafted, regardless of round, they are done playing College Football.

If you make it an option to enter the draft "early," if that player is drafted, regardless of round, they are done playing College Football.

 

Agree with the bolded, but give them option to return to school and finish their education.

Because colleges can't recruit top level guys if they don't know who will be back. Think of it this way, how does UK seriously recruit a kid to play tailback not knowing if Boom Williams will get drafted or not. If you're the HS kid and want to play immediately, you get that chance if he sticks in the pro's but are relegated to a year (or two) as a back up if he comes back.

Putting your name in the draft allows HS kids to know there is an opportunity there. The only real solution would be to push back signing day till after the draft or allow HS kids to bail on signed commits and that should never happen. Rosters would be a nightmare and 'stealing' kids would be crazy.

 

If the rule is changed to you have to go to college for one year before declaring for the draft like the NBA then what is the issue? After one year you declare for the draft. If you don't get drafted you go back to the school you came from. If they really cared about the kids they'd let them come back to school if they weren't drafted.

If the rule is changed to you have to go to college for one year before declaring for the draft like the NBA then what is the issue? After one year you declare for the draft. If you don't get drafted you go back to the school you came from. If they really cared about the kids they'd let them come back to school if they weren't drafted.

 

If anything make it two years for football. Many freshman get redshirted their first year anyways. So make it to where they have to be in college for two years. This way if they do have a great redshirt freshman year after their second year in college then they can leave if they want.

It's never going to happen in football. At least not anytime soon. NFL players union is the weakest and they can't even get guaranteed contracts for players in the league now. They aren't going to make any effort for players who aren't even paying dues yet.

 

Plus with the NFL roster so limited it leaves little room to allow players to sit and develop. The NBA can have a guy sit as 12th man or go to the D league . MLB has minor leagues.

 

As long as the NFL and NCAA racking in cash we can all say what we think should happen. It's just not going to happen.

If NCAA players are able to leave earlier than now for the NFL it would be a disaster for 90% of the players that would opt to leave.