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Recent change in NFL Draft numbers for underclassmen has been gold for Miami

College football and more specifically Miami have benefited from the drop in players entering the NFL Draft since 2018

ByAlan Rubenstein|
Sep 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) celebrates with tight end Riley Williams (88) after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo (8) celebrates with tight end Riley Williams (88) after scoring a touchdown against the Virginia Tech Hokies during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Tight end Elijah Arroyo, wide receiver Sam Brown, running back Damien Martinez and offensive lineman Jalen Rivers are among the early entrees into the 2025 NFL Draft from Miami. The four Miami players entering the 2025 draft are part of a decrease in early entries nationally since 2018.

Beginning with the 2018 NFL Draft class, Miami lost running back Mark Walton and defensive linemen Kendrick Norton and R.J. McIntosh as early entries. None of those three are still in the NFL for varying reasons. McIntosh, Norton and Walton left for the NFL after Miami played in the 2017 ACC Championship game and finished 10-3 in 2017.

Defensive lineman Joe Jackson and running back Travis Homer left Miami early for the 2019 NFL Draft. Homer is the only Miami early entry into the 2019 Draft still active in the NFL. After four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Homer has spent the last two with the Chicago Bears.

Miami lost defensive lineman Jonathan Garvin and running back DeeJay Dallas early to the 2020 NFL Draft. Dallas is still in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals after beginning his career with the Seattle Seahawks as a teammate of Homer's. Garvin spent three seasons with the Green Bay Packers but is now out of the NFL.

The 2021 NFL Draft was the last one before the Name, Image and Likeness era. Tight end Brevin Jordan and defensive lineman Jaelan Phillips and Gregory Rousseau all left early as three of the four Miami draftees in 2021. Jordan, Phillips and Rousseau all remain in the NFL four years later.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Ford was the only draftee from Miami in 2022. Ford did not leave early. After being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round, Ford did not play in the NFL until he participated in four games with the Chicago Bears in 2024.

Tyrique Stevenson entered the 2023 NFL Draft after playing two seasons with Georgia and two with Miami. Stevenson had one more year of eligibility remaining because of his COVID year. Stevenson has become a key player with the Chicago Bears through his first two seasons in the NFL.

Center Matt Lee and safeties Kamren Kinchens and James Williams left Miami for the 2024 NFL Draft with one season of college eligiblity remaining. Lee had one year left after playing five seasons due to a redshirt and COVID year. Kinchens and Williams left after their true junior seasons.

Kinchens and Lee played in all 17 games in 2024. Kinchens earned all-rookie as a key player for the Los Angeles Rams. Williams played in 13 games with the Tennessee Titans. As NIL becomes more prevalent, expect the number of players entering the NFL Draft to continue to decrease in the future.

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