The deadline for eligible players to make their NFL Draft decisions has come and gone, and several college football superstars are returning for another shot at college glory before they move on to the NFL. While there are always risks in coming back, the NIL era gives players a chance to make a nice chunk of change during their college career, with some deals reportedly competing with NFL rookie salaries. This year, we saw several potential early-round draft prospects spurn the league for at least one more season.
With NFL Draft announcements coming hard and fast the past couple of weeks, it’s easy to miss which players will be back in 2024.
Who are the best college football players that made the decision to return? Let’s break them down.
1. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas: Ewers was phenomenal in 2023, throwing for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns as he led to the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff. On Jan. 11, Ewers announced that he will put the NFL off for one more year and return to Texas for his redshirt junior season. Get ready for the hype train because Ewers’ success in 2023 combined with the Longhorns’ move to the SEC will make him an early favorite for Heisman Trophy next year.
2. Xavier Watts, DB, Notre Dame: Watts pulled down seven interceptions — tied for first in the country — and notched 52 tackles en route to earning the Nagusrski Award and unanimous All-American honors. Add in Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard and the Fighting Irish look like real contenders to earn a CFP berth in 2024.
3. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State: Gordon enjoyed a breakout season, amassing more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage (1,732 rushing and 330 receiving) with 22 total touchdowns. The unanimous All-American’s explosive ability…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/nfl-draft-2024-top-20-college-football-players-who-spurned-the-pros-to-return-for-another-season/
Author : Barrett Sallee
Publish date : 2024-01-17 21:23:42
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