LSU underclassmen Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Ego Ferguson, Anthony Johnson and La'El Collins are all leaning toward declaring themselves eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft, according to a Yahoo Sports report.
Where wide receivers Landry and Beckham are concerned, that's nothing new. But it is the first indication that the NFL is more than just a serious consideration for defensive tackles Johnson and Ferguson, and Collins, a left tackle who might merit a first-round evaluation, according to NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks.
Citing league sources, the report indicated Landry and Beckham would merit first-round picks. Both had more than 1,000 receiving yards in what was a resurgent season for the LSU offense and senior quarterback Zach Mettenberger, an NFL prospect himself.
All five have met with potential agents.
Conspicuously absent from the report is running back Jeremy Hill, a third-year sophomore who is also considering early NFL draft entry. Hill, on probation with legal troubles, has met most of his probation terms and is among the most talented running backs in the nation.
If LSU were to lose five underclassmen, that would mark 15 exiting the Tigers program early over the last two years, a mass exodus by any standard.
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