Keeping track of all of the juniors that have declared or have decided to return to school can sometimes be a cumbersome process. With that in mind, we have listed the juniors who have decided to declare by position. Most juniors consult with the draft advisory committee before making their decision. This committee will provide these potential prospects with a draft round projection that is intended to help aid them in their decision-making.
The deadline for underclassmen to declare is Monday, January 16.
If they decide to declare, they hire an agent, which in turn ends their amateur status and college eligibility. As long as a player is three years removed from high school, they are permitted to seek special eligibility to enter the draft. They have a 72 hour cooling off period in which they are permitted to change their mind and return to college. This list includes true juniors only.
Why do we track underclassmen entering the draft? Underclassmen entering the draft often receive high enough grades from the draft advisory committee that they feel confident about their prospects of being drafted. In most years, they also make up the bulk of Day 1 and, at times, even the Day 2 selections. In 2022, 73 underclassmen were granted special eligibility for the NFL Draft, a stark contrast to the record 108 we saw in 2018. It is also quite a drop from the 98 who were granted eligibility for the 2021 NFL Draft. The number will be close to the 2022 level this year.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles 
2023 NFL Draft Prospects Declaring & Surprises Returning to School
We will be updating this article up until the deadline, so be sure to check back for the latest updates. Monday, January 16, is the deadline to declare.
Quarterback
Anthony Richardson (Florida)
C.J. Stroud (Ohio State)
Bryce Young (Alabama)
We are expected to see another couple of names declare by the deadline, including a quarterback in the mix to be the first overall pick in C.J. Stroud. There are some intriguing seniors in this draft class, but of the four quarterbacks that are projected to have a chance to be drafted in the first round, three are underclassmen. The 2023 quarterback class is significantly stronger than what we saw in 2022, especially when we add in the handful of seniors who project as top-level developmental and backup quarterbacks.
Running Back
Israel Abanikanda (Pittsburgh)
Devon Achane (Texas A&M)
Tank Bigbsy (Auburn)
Tiyon Evans (Louisville)
Zach Evans (Ole Miss)
Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama)
DeWayne McBride (UAB)
Kendre Miller (TCU)
Keaton Mitchell (East Carolina)
Bijan Robinson (Texas)
Sean Tucker (Syracuse)
Deuce Vaughn (Kansas State)
Bijan Robinson is the top running back prospect we have seen since Saquon Barkley and gets a lot of the headlines, but there are a number of other running backs who are expected to feature as starters or as a significant part of a committee. Blake Corum is the top name to return to school for his senior season, but there are still a handful of juniors who are expected to get long looks on Day 2.
Wide Receiver
Jordan Addison (USC)
Kayshon Boutte (LSU)
Josh Downs (North Carolina)
Jalin Hyatt (Tennessee)
Rakim Jarrett (Maryland)
Quentin Johnston (TCU)
Marvin Mims (Oklahoma)
Tyler Scott (Cincinnati)
Jaxon Smith-Njiba (Ohio State)
Parker Washington (Penn State)
The wide receiver class has strong depth but is not short on top-end talent. There are six receivers with a chance to be drafted in the first round, with five of them being juniors. Jermaine Burton returning for his senior season likely means that we will not see this class match the seven receivers drafted on Day 1 in 2022. Jaxon Smith-Njiba, Quentin Johnston, Jordan Addison, and Kayshon Boutte are near locks for the first round, while Jalin Hyatt, Josh Downs, and Zay Flowers should also be in the mix.
Tight End
Zack Kuntz (Old Dominion)
Michael Mayer (Notre Dame)
Darnell Washington (Georgia)
Michael Mayer is the star of this tight end class but has lost a bit of his shine to true sophomore Brock Bowers. Mayer is likely the only tight end that will even be considered for the first round and has a pro-ready game that should allow him to hit the ground running for whatever team calls his name. We should see a few tight ends go on Day 2, but the bulk of them are expected to be seniors, especially with Benjamin Yurosek returning for the 2023 college season. Darnell Washington may be the lone junior to go on Day 2.
Edge
Will Anderson (Alabama)
Felix Anudike-Uzomah (Kansas State)
Nick Herbig (Wisconsin)
Myles Murphy (Clemson)
BJ Ojulari (LSU)
Will Anderson is the toast of the 2023 edge rusher class, especially with Jared Verse deciding to return for his senior season. Anderson was expected to be the first non quarterback off the board coming into the season, and while he should be the first edge to be drafted, he will have to battle with Jalen Carter for that distinction. There are expected to be some additional names who declare by Monday’s deadline, including first round talent Felix Anudike-Uzomah. With that said, with Verse, Braelen Trice, and Zion Tupuola-Fetui staying in college for the 2023 season, the edge rusher crop has taken a major hit, especially at the top end.
Linebacker
Drew Sanders (Arkansas)
Noah Sewell (Oregon)
Trenton Simpson (Clemson)
Trenton Simpson and Noah Sewell are the lone linebackers in this class that are expected to garner looks in the first round, with Simpson being the more likely candidate. There is still some intriguing depth in this class when we include the seniors, but most are of the late Day 2 or Day 3 variety. Senior Bowl week may change the outlook, but this is expected to be one of the weaker linebacker crops in recent memory.
Defensive Line
MJ Anderson (Iowa State)
Bryan Breese (Clemson)
Jalen Carter (Georgia)
Gervon Dexter (Florida)
Jaquelin Roy (LSU)
Lukas Van Ness (Iowa State)
Jalen Carter is one of the top defensive tackle prospects in recent years and is in the mix to be a top-three pick. There are four other interior defensive linemen with a chance to be drafted on Day 1 in Bryan Breese, Siaki Ika, Myles Murphy, and Gervon Dexter. There are some seniors in the Day 2 mix, but Day 1 is expected to be dominated by underclassmen.
Safety
Brian Branch (Alabama)
Antonio Johnson (Texas A&M)
Jaylon Jones (Texas A&M)
Rashad Torrence (Florida)
Brian Branch and Antonio Johnson are the two safeties with no doubt first round grades, but senior Jordan Battle has a chance to hear his name called on Day 1 as well. This class has some intriguing depth and talent, but it is not as deep as what we saw in 2022.
Cornerback
Eli Ricks (Alabama)
Emmanuel Forbes (Ole Miss)
Christian Gonzalez (Oregon)
Clark Phillips (Utah)
Eli Ricks (Alabama)
Kelee Ringo (Georgia)
Cam Smith (South Carolina)
Carrington Valentine (Kentucky)
This cornerback group features several prospects expected to be drafted on Day 1 and Day 2. Kelee Ringo is the toast of the class, but there are a number of other prospects who should be making starts for their new teams in their rookie seasons.
Offensive Line
Anton Harrison (Oklahoma)
Paris Johnson (Ohio State)
Broderick Jones (Georgia)
Peter Skoronski (Northwestern)
Tuli Tuipulotu (USC)
Luke Wypler (Ohio State)
Peter Skoronski, Paris Johnson, Anton Harrison, Broderick Jones, and O’Cyrus Torrence are the five offensive linemen expected to hear their names called on Day 1. There should be some seniors who thrust themselves into the mix with a strong Senior Bowl week, but it is the juniors who will dominate the first round. The class took a bit of a hit when top prospect Olu Fashanu decided to return to Penn State for the 2023 season.
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.
