ESPN NFL

The NFL was expecting a record number of underclassmen to join the 2009 draft, and while more than half the first round could be juniors, the total number of defections is surprisingly low. The exact total is not yet official, but it appears there will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 underclassmen available when draft weekend rolls around.

These five players (listed in order of draft potential) surprised me the most with their decisions to return to put off the NFL for another year on campus.

1. Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy -- QB Sam Bradford's decision has understandably drawn the most hype among Sooners returnees, but I found McCoy's to be more surprising. The disruptive defensive tackle projected as a possible top-10 pick in a class void of elite talent at his position.

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