2018 NFL draft early entrants - January 5
The Jan. 15 deadline for underclassmen to decide if they want to return to college or declare for the 2018 NFL draft is fast approaching. With bowl season in the rear-view mirror and only the College Football Playoff title game remaining for the 2017 season, decisions from prominent players will be coming out left and right in the coming days.
This year, we’ll have a post every day — updated throughout the day — with the players who decide to pursue professional football.
Previously: Jan. 2, Jan. 3, Jan. 4, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold, Saquon Barkley, Lamar Jackson
Ronald Jones, RB, USC
Jones had a great season out west for the Trojans but was overshadowed by Stanford running back Bryce Love’s excellence.
USC RB @ronaldjones25 has decided to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.
He leaves Troy as the fifth-leading rusher in school history. #FightOn | #USCtotheNFL pic.twitter.com/jkt3udeduA
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) January 5, 2018
Jones topped 1,000 yards for th second-straight season, rushing for 1,550 yards on 261 carries. He also ran for 19 touchdowns and added a receiving score on 14 catches for 187 yards.
He joins teammate Sam Darnold in the 2018 NFL draft.
Josh Adams, RB, Notre Dame
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Adams has the look of a bruising running back, but he can reel off the big play, too. Adams finished his junior season with 1,430 yards and nine touchdowns, including six games with a run of 60 yards or longer. For his career, Adams rushed for 3,198 yards and 20 touchdowns along with 41 catches for 336 yards and two more scores.
A post shared by Josh Adams (@docteradams_from_uptown) on Jan 5, 2018 at 9:35am PST
James Daniels, OL, Iowa
In his three years at Iowa, James Daniels made 25 starts, with 23 of them coming over the last two years at center. He is the second Iowa underclassman to declare, joining DB Josh Jackson. According to HawkeyeReport.com, Daniels received a second round grade from the NFL Draft Advisory Board.
A post shared by James Daniels (@jamsdans) on Jan 5, 2018 at 7:18am PST
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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
