Pac-12 NFL Draft underclassmen watch: Which Pac-12 players might leave early?

Only the regular season of 2017 is over, but everyone is already looking ahead to 2018. Nothing is more important to how the next season stacks up than which players declare early for the NFL Draft and which ones don’t. There are some very big names that will be on the fence heading into bowl season, but here’s a comprehensive breakdown of most of the players who will likely be mulling over the call and what I think they do.

JoJo Wicker Jr. DE Arizona State - An athletic defensive end with great size who can rush the passer. He’s a great NFL prospect. Range: 5th/6th Round Stay or Go? Stay

Isaiah Oliver Jr. CB Colorado - At 6’1 190, he’s the next great Colorado cornerback with excellent size and ball skills. As good as any cornerback in the Pac-12. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay or Go? Go

Ryan Nall Jr. RB Oregon State - Nall’s having another good year as a 6’2 235-pound running back on a really bad team. He doesn’t have elite speed or anything, but he’s a productive running back with NFL size. Range: 6th/7th Round Stay or Go? Stay

Bryce Love Jr. RB Stanford - The most-likely Pac-12 player to declare whether he wins the Heisman or not. What’s so impressive about Love is that he could be a first round pick without NFL size. Range: Late-1st/Early-2nd Round Stay or Go? Go

Harrison Phillips Sr. DT Stanford - Listed as a senior, but really a redshirt junior, one of the conference’s best defensive linemen is a good NFL prospect. He’s a little bit of a tweener, so it limits his NFL ceiling, but he’s too good a player to slip too far. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay or Go? Go

Bobby Okereke Sr. LB Stanford - Veteran linebacker with great size has exploded in 2017. He’s a great pass rusher and run defender - a complete linebacker at 6’2 235. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay or Go? Stay

Quenton Meeks Jr. CB Stanford - Great size and production at 6’2 200. Maybe the best cornerback in the conference based on body and athleticism. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay or Go? Go

Justin Reid Jr. S Stanford - Reid has progressed into one of the best safeties in the nation and is versatile in run and pass defense. Range: Late-1st/Early-2nd Round Stay or Go? Go

Josh Rosen Jr. QB UCLA - Rosen seems all but gone and could go as high as first in the 2018 Draft. Range: Top 10 Stay or Go? Go.

Sam Darnold So. QB USC - Darnold was pegged as the next Andrew Luck and the unquestioned top pick going into the season, but he has shown major flaws throughout the year. He’s still a Top 10 pick at worst in my opinion, but redshirt sophomore rarely declare so I am wondering if he actually comes back for his junior season. Range: Top 10 Stay or Go? Stay.

Ronald Jones Jr. RB USC - Jones is already over 1,200 yards with 15 touchdowns and is still red hot. He doesn’t have ideal size, but has great speed as is more powerful than he might seem at 200 pounds. Range: Late-2nd/Early-3rd Round Stay or Go? Go

Deontay Burnett Jr. WR USC - The Pac-12’s most-productive receiver doesn’t have great size (especially bulk at only 170), but he’s everything you want in a receiver otherwise - fast, quick with good hands and knack for getting open in the end zone. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay of Go? Go

Toa Lobendahn Jr. G USC - The talented USC lineman has been injured for seemingly his entire career and might want to jump to the NFL sooner rather than later. Range: 7th Round/UDFA Stay or Go? Stay

Porter Gustin Jr. DE USC - Gustin had the chance to turn into a first round pick in 2017, but was injured for most of the season. He should still be a decent draft pick, but may return to fulfill his potential. Range: 4th/5th Round Stay or Go? Stay

Rasheem Green Jr. DT USC - The excellent combo lineman is having a very good year making plays in the backfield. His size and athleticism are rare, though he is not quite a Leonard Williams-level player yet. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay or Go? Go

Cameron Smith Jr. LB USC - Steady as one of the best inside linebackers in the nation. Players like him are rare these days to I think he goes off the board quick once he gets into the draft. Range: Late-2nd/Early 3rd Round Stay or Go? Go

Iman Marshall Jr. CB USC - The 6’1 205 stud hadn’t quite lived up to expectations prior to getting hurt. It could keep him from declaring early. Range: Mid-to-late-2nd Round Stay or Go? Go

Marvell Tell III Jr. S USC - Tell has progressed into one of the Pac-12’s best safeties. He has the size and skills to play at the next level very soon. Range: 6th/7th Round Stay or Go? Stay

Myles Gaskin Jr. RB Washington - He cracked 1,000 yards for the third straight season as a small but tough and speedy back. He doesn’t have good NFL size for a back, but has piled up a lot of mileage at UW and has good breakaway speed. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay of Go? Go

Trey Adams Jr. T Washington - Adams was looking like a Top 5 pick before he injured his knee in October. Reports have him coming back, but you have to wonder if that will stick if he is still projected as a first round pick in January. Range: Early-to-mid-2nd Round Stay or Go? Stay

Vita Vea Jr. DT Washington - The monster defensive tackle with great athleticism is almost a guarantee to declare and be a first round pick. Range: Mid-to-late-1st Round Stay or Go? Go

Greg Gaines Jr. DT Washington - Gaines isn’t as well-known as Vea, but he’s just about as good. He’s on the shorter side so it limits his NFL ceiling, but he’s still a good prospect who could declare early. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay or Go: Stay

Tavares Martin Jr. Jr. WR Washington State - Another rangy receiver with great production. He should finish with more than 1,000 yards and 10 TDs this season as Luke Falk’s top target. He already looks like an NFL receiver. Range: 5th/6th Round Stay or Go: Stay

Hercules Mata’afa Jr. DE Washington State - The conference’s best defensive player isn’t a slam dunk NFL player because he is undersized, but there is no way a player this good with his kind of motor will make it further than the first half of the draft in my opinion. He has to consider heading out early. Range: 3rd/4th Round Stay or Go: Go