Only 55 underclassmen enter 2025 NFL Draft

Only 55 underclassmen are in the 2025 NFL Draft prospect pool, but that number could grow next week.

Pro prospects for Notre Dame and Ohio State are allowed to declare for the draft following the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday.

The total of 55 does not include players who are underclassmen in terms of eligibility but completed graduation requirements. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, viewed as a top-40 draft pick by Field Level Media, and Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon are included in the draft class as graduates and not considered underclassmen. A total of 15 prospects meet the description.

Colorado's Travis Hunter, the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner and a projected top-five pick in the draft, Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks and Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham are marquee prospects and headline underclassmen granted early eligibility confirmed by the NFL on Thursday.

Ohio State and Notre Dame players must inform the NFL of their decision to enter the draft by Jan. 24.

The total of 70 non-senior prospects is up from 60 in 2024, but down significantly from recent years.

A record 106 underclassmen entered the 2018 draft pool and there were 99 in 2019.

But there was a significant reduction because of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The NCAA responded to shortened or forfeited seasons by granting all fall sports athletes an additional year of eligibility. Even players who were seniors in terms of eligibility did not expend their window to play college sports and had the option of returning to school to play the 2021 season.

In 2022, a total of 100 early entrees were announced at the deadline, which was Jan. 17. There were 73 underclassmen admitted by the NFL with 27 who fulfilled graduation requirements. In 2023, of 82 total prospects approved by the league; 69 players fell into the "special eligibility" or underclassmen category and 13 more were admitted as early graduates.

The complete list provided by the NFL:

LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse

Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford

Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

Stone Blanton, LB, Mississippi State

Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas

Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

Luther Burden, WR, Missouri

Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State

Josh Conerly, OT, Oregon

Nick Emmanwori, DB, South Carolina

Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

Dylan Fairchild, OG, Georgia

Harold Fannin, TE, Bowling Green

D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State

Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Travis Hunter, DB, Colorado

Jordan James, RB, Oregon

Shemar James, LB, Florida

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

Will Johnson, DB, Michigan

Emery Jones, OT, LSU

Kobe King, LB, Penn State

Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Damien Martinez, RB, Miami

Marcus Mbow, OG, Purdue

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi

Jacob Parrish, DB, Kansas State

Chris Paul, LB, Mississippi

James Pearce, DE, Tennessee

Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee

Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona

Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA

Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M

Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Malaki Starks, DB, Georgia

Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

Azareye'h Thomas, DB, Florida State

Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

Cameron Williams, OT, Texas

Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia

Jared Wilson, C, Georgia

Kevin Winston Jr., DB, Penn State

The following underclassmen officially notified the league office that they have fulfilled their degree requirements. Consequently, they are eligible for selection:

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami

Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State

Thomas Fidone, TE, Nebraska

Oronde Gadsden, TE, Syracuse

Ollie Gordon, RB, Oklahoma State

Mike Green, DE, Marshall

Maxwell Hairston, DB, Kentucky

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DT, Georgia

Drew Kendall, C, Boston College

Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State

Tristan Michaud, WR, South Dakota

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

Malik Verdon, DB, Iowa State

--Field Level Media