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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/22153184/2013-nfl-draft-top-10-undrafted-underclassmen
2013 NFL Draft: Top 10 undrafted underclassmenBy Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
April 27, 2013 8:40 pm ET
With 254 picks announced, the 2013 NFL Draft is complete and it's time to look at what is left on the board. Assessing the prospects who weren't drafted, there were several underclassmen who decided to skip their remaining college eligibility to enter the draft, but have gone undrafted.
A record 73 underclassmen entered the draft early, but only 50 (or 68.5%) heard their name called in the 2013 NFL Draft, leaving 23 undrafted. The percentage of underclassmen drafted has declined considerably over the past five years:
2013: 50/73 (68.5%)
2012: 44/65 (67.7%)
2011: 43/56 (76.8%)
2010: 46/53 (86.8%)
2009: 41/46 (89.1%)
Let's look at 10 underclassmen in this class who decided to leave school early, but surprisingly will have to make their mark in the NFL as an undrafted free agent.
10. DT Brandon Moore, Texas (6-5, 317, 5.27)
A surprise early entrée, Moore stated his dreams to play in the NFL as his main reason for leaving Texas early after only one season in Austin. He transferred from East Mississippi Community College and started five games for the Longhorns, but his 2012 neck injury might have been a strong factor as to why he went undrafted.
9. OG Alvin Bailey, Arkansas (6-3, 312, 4.95)
Bailey started every game of his collegiate career (38 starts) with time at both left and right guard. He has intriguing size and power, but is a limited athlete and very inconsistent, too easily abandoning his fundamentals as a blocker. At a position like guard, teams are less likely to take a chance on players with questions like Bailey.
8. OT Chris Faulk, LSU (6-5, 331, 5.08)
Faulk became the full-time starter at left tackle as a sophomore, but started just one game in 2012 after a knee injury that required separate surgeries on his MCL and ACL. Despite missing almost all of his junior year, he decided to skip his final season and go pro. The questions about his knee were likly a large factor as to why he went undrafted.
7. RB Michael Ford, LSU (5-10, 210, 4.50)
Ford arrived at LSU as a top high school recruit and led the team in rushing in 2011, but was part of a committee backfield in 2012. He has a thick build to run over defenders, but he lacks a natural feel between the tackles. Ford's shortcomings as a pass-catcher and blocker were likely also strong factors to him going undrafted.
6. DT Kwame Geathers, Georgia (6-6, 342, 5.44)
The latest player from the Geathers family to make the jump to the NFL, Kwame has the size and length that cannot be taught. But he was nothing more than a part-time player at Georgia and struggled to make much of an impact. Geathers likely should have returned to school and proved he can make an impact, but not many humans are built like him.
5. Cierre Wood, Notre Dame (5-11, 213, 4.56)
Although he had an up-and-down collegiate career, Wood flashed NFL talent throughout his time in South Bend and has the skills to contribute in a zone-blocking scheme. But lackluster production and some off-field questions (two-game 2012 suspension for breaking team rules) made him not worthy of a draft pick.
4. FS Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma (5-11, 213, 4.75)
Jefferson emerged as an impact starter as a true freshman in 2010 in a hybrid nickel safety role and was productive the past three seasons for the Sooners. But poor tackling technique and concerns about his body holding up at the next level were both major factors that saw him slip down boards, eventually going undrafted.
3. CB Nickell Robey, USC (5-7, 169, 4.53)
Robey started every game the past three seasons for the Trojans with steady production, finishing his college career with seven interceptions. He has only average speed, but the reason he went undrafted is something out of his control: his height. If only a few inches taller, Robey would have been an early round pick, but at just 5-7 ¼", NFL teams weren't willing to take the chance.
2. WR Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech (6-3, 217, 4.52)
Once considered a first round prospect, Rogers led the SEC in catches in 2011, but was dismissed from Tennessee prior to the 2012 season due to multiple failed drug tests and issues with the coaching staff. He wound up at Tennessee Tech and was productive at the FCS-level in 2012 and kept his nose clean, but the damage was already done. Considered a first round talent by some, the talent wasn't enough to overlook the maturity concerns.
1. QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee (6-6, 232, 5.05)
The most surprising undrafted prospect, underclassman or not, was the former Tennessee passer. He has top-shelf arm talent and can make all the throws necessary at the NFL level with ease, but the off-field concerns and shortcomings above the shoulders were likely too much to overlook for pro teams. Bray is an example of prospect that has all the physical tools imaginable, but the below average intangibles likely took him off the board entirely for most teams.
