When the NFL released its list of early entrants in the 2011 NFL Draft, one local name was noticeably absent. After publicly declaring for the draft last week, Taiwan Jones, running back from Eastern Washington, was not among the 56 players listed as receiving a special exemption, given to those who forgo college eligibility to enter the draft early. After all the buzz about his declaration, did he have a change of heart?
The answer, according to SB Nation’s Mocking the Draft, is simple. Wednesday’s list only covers FBS players and doesn’t include players from a lower NCAA subdivision — specifically the FCS.
NFL spokesperson Terence Malangone informed MTD that the release today only included Football Bowl Subdivision players. The NFL will release a separate memo with non-FBS players.
Jones is still in the draft and will forgo the rest of his eligibility at Eastern, with the news being made official sometime in the near-future when the NFL sends out the memo. Since declaring, Jones has created plenty of buzz and seen his draft stock rise quickly, with some projecting him as a mid-round pick.
For more on Jones and the rest of the local products heading to the NFL, stay tuned to our 2011 NFL Draft prospects StoryStream.