A record 65 underclassmen declared for the 2012 NFL Draft by the deadline. The Big East made up only five of that number, but three players left the Syracuse Orange early: WR Dorian Graham, DE Chandler Jones and S Phillip Thomas. Running back Darrell Scott is leaving the South Florida Bulls early. Wide receiver Mohamed Sanu is leaving the Rutgers Scarlet Knights early.
Jones, Sanu and Scott are the only players who are leaving early who made the All-Big East team last season. Jones was a first-team defensive selection while Sanu was a first-team offensive selection and Scott was a second-team offensive selection. Jones and Sanu are the only ones who were ranked as Top 100 prospects by Draft Countdown.
Dorian Graham made 24 catches for 260 yards and 2 touchdowns for Syracuse last season. He also had a rushing touchdown.
Chandler Jones had 38 tackles (7.5 for loss), 4.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception.
Phillip Thomas led the Orange with 82 tackles and 6 interceptions. Thomas' 6 interceptions also led the Big East while his 8.2 tackles per game ranked 4th.
Darrell Scott rushed for 814 yards and 5 touchdowns last season for South Florida which gave him 1,252 yards and six touchdowns in a career which started at Colorado where he was not often used. Scott also had 169 yards receiving and a touchdown in 2011.
Mohamed Sanu caught a Big East and Rutgers record 115 passes last season for 1,206 yards and 7 touchdowns. Sanu has been projected as a first-round pick in the latest mock drafts.
For more coverage of Big East players in the 2012 NFL Draft, visit our NFL Draft page.