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The 2025 NFL Draft declaration deadline is in the rearview mirror, which means the crop of prospects for April’s event is set. A total of 71 college players will forgo their remaining eligibility and test the professional waters.
While that’s a large number, it is down from previous years. Increasingly, college football stars are spurning the draft for at least another year with their respective teams. Name, image and likeness deals often allow players to make more money than late-round draft picks on rookie contracts.
Combine that with the opportunity to increase one’s draft stock, and it’s not hard to see why players are taking advantage of extra eligibility.
Cam Ward initially declared for the NFL Draft after a breakout 2023 season at Washington State but, after reconsidering, transferred to Miami. He developed into a Heisman Trophy finalist, led the Hurricanes to 10 wins and may very well go No. 1 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With the deadline behind us, it’s an appropriate time to look at the top college football players who spurned the NFL Draft to come back for the 2025 season.
Banks is part of an impressive core of players returning to Gainesville in 2025, including other standouts like starting center Jake Slaughter. But Banks turned down a strong draft outlook — he likely would have heard his name called within the first few rounds — to run it back with the Gators. He’s a disruptive interior presence who finished the 2024 season with 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss. At almost 6-foot-6 and 325…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/2025-nfl-draft-top-11-college-football-players-who-spurned-the-pros-to-return-for-one-more-season/
Author : Will Backus
Publish date : 2025-01-28 17:42:00
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