12.23.2008 3:38 pm
Jeremy Maclin and Sean Weatherspoon turn in preliminary draft paperwork
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
WR Jeremy Maclin and LB Sean Weatherspoon last week turned in their paperwork to be officially evaluated for the upcoming NFL draft.
Both underclassmen have until Jan. 15 to announce their intentions.
Many players go through this process to see where they are ranked by NFL scouts before making their decisions on whether to leave school early or not. Both have said they will talk with coach Gary Pinkel before making their decisions.
Last year, Missouri had five players test the NFL waters but all returned to school.
Senior defensive back William Moore and tight end Chase Coffman are showing up in the top 40 of the early draft rankings by various services but a lot can change, especially after the scouting combine in February.
Maclin’s definitely coming out…why would he not? he’s a 1st rd. pick for sure and with blaine gabbert taking the helm next yr, he figures to have a down yr (comparatively). he has all the tools to compete in the nfl. Witherspoon should do the same. why risk having a bad season when you may have peaked? cash in young bloods!
Sean -
Witherspoon’s situation is a completely different from Maclin’s…the offense may well decline next year and, therefore, Maclin should leave…but the quality of the defense never impacts the perception of a defensive player and all Witherspoon can do is improve has draft status with another year….see Patrick Willis of Ole Miss as prime example of this.
Thanks for the memories J-Mac……….Spoon, we will see you back in COMO next year!
You will see more college players leave their schools this year and enter the draft than ever before. simple because of the new clause being put into place after this years draft. It is going to limit the amount of money players can receive in signing bonuses. There already is a cluase limiting the intial salary, but not bonuses. That is going to be in place for the 2010 nfl draft. the most players EVER will leave this year for the draft from all schools…mark my words
Maclin is gone but weatherspoon will stay