Thursday was the deadline for third-year college football players to declare for the NFL draft.
Cardale Jones, the Ohio State quarterback who spent all of 100 minutes on the field in three starts that produced three championships, capped the declaration process by deciding to return to Columbus.
His announcement was the final soundbite in a rushed few days that raise several questions.
First, the decision date needs to be moved back. Period.
Now that bowl games have been adjusted and the title game has moved into the second week of January, the fact that Jones had only 60 hours to make this decision is not fair. And, yes, he is the exception and possibly an outlier unlike any we have seen, but that bowl-season star power could create similar scenarios going forward. Plus, what does it hurt to move it back another week so guys such as Jones could get a grade from the NFL draft board if they wanted one?
Second, some of the best recruiting a college coach can do has happened this week. Seriously, you can talk about star-studded recruiting classes, but when it comes to filling needs in the here and now, getting guys to return for their redshirt junior years or their senior seasons is huge.
Here are some of the teams that did the best in recruiting key pieces to stay for one more run:
Auburn -- The Tigers will welcome back linebackers Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy, much to the enjoyment of new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. But the real surprise was Auburn coaches convincing wide receiver Duke Williams to stay for his senior season. Somewhere Auburn quarterback Jeremy Johnson is smiling.
Michigan State -- Quarterback Connor Cook and defensive end Shilique Calhoun, who was projected as a first-round talent in a talented first round filled with defensive ends, have said they are coming back for their senior season. Those two dudes likely are captains in 2015.
Georgia -- Linebacker Leonard Floyd would have tested off the charts, but he's coming back to Athens and could be an absolute beast as a junior next season. Also, getting Jordan Jenkins back is a nice bonus. It also represents a nice reversal of a trend for Georgia, which had 11 players leave early for the draft from 2009 to 2012. In the last two years, only running back Todd Gurley has left early.
Mississippi State -- The Bulldogs did lose running back Josh Robinson and linebacker Benardrick McKinney, but getting Dak Prescott to return for his senior run at quarterback is a huge bonus.
Tennessee -- On a team returning a ton of young talent -- and attracting even more young talent -- the return of defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt is huge from an experience and leadership standpoint. Plus, while his name was never mentioned seriously as looking toward the NFL, safety Brian Randolph coming back means UT has 20 of 22 starters returning.
Alabama -- Yes, Landon Collins and Amari Cooper left to be first-round picks, but linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive lineman Jarran Reed are coming back for a front seven that should be among the best in college football.
Finally, we are getting closer and closer to the ethical crossroads on players and curtailing their draft eligibility.
Let's take Ohio State sophomore running back Ezekiel Elliott, who just crushed Wisconsin, Alabama and Oregon to the tune of 696 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Elliott can't declare for the draft by rule. It could be argued that it would be in his best interest to skip next fall in Columbus and not risk injury. So we are staring at a crossroads where the smart play is not to play.
Along those lines, it will be interesting to follow the case of wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham.
Where Green-Beckham gets drafted this spring will be quite telling in that regard, since the former No. 1 prospect in the country missed this past season while sitting out because of a transfer from Missouri to Oklahoma. DGB has declared for the draft, and if he goes in the first round, well, that would severely devalue that final year of Saturdays on the field.
Yes, the guys such as Elliott in the here and now or a guy like Gurley before him can get rivers of insurance -- paid for by the schools, mind you -- but the wear and tear on running backs and the risk of career-ending injuries make the question even more pertinent now.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @jgreesontfp.com.