But doesn’t that prove the point that he, and many other Power 5 conference players, did not play with the expectation of going on to the NFL? A top team can send multiple players (8? 10?) to the NFL most years, but that’s 8-10 out of 40 eligible juniors and seniors. That’s still more not making it than making it, even on the best teams. Most teams, even Power 5 teams, are happy when 5 players are drafted, and 3 of those may not make the pros.
I don’t think the NFL or the NBA should restrict the high schoolers from going directly into the pros. I don’t think it would make much difference in who goes to college and who doesn’t, but I don’t like the restriction. There have been a few sophomore football players who could be drafted but who have to wait, but overall most play all 4 years in college, or even 5 years after high school graduation because of red shirting, and still may not be ready for the pros. This year’s big junior draftee was Christian McCaffrey and he’s making it big. Would he have been ready to play in the pros as a high school grad? NO! He has the benefit of growing up with an NFL father, plus a mother, grandfather and brother who were NCAA athletes, being around John Elway and professional agents all his life, having real guidance with his decisions. He still benefited from college.
If you want to see the players who don’t want to be in college and do it only for football, watch Last Chance U. The college structure is helping those kids even if they don’t like it. I don’t think the NFL wants any of them yet.