Judge Farrell: Issuing verdicts on early entry decisions by five-stars

Mark Pszonak contributed to this report

Twenty former five-stars on Rivals.com have decided to enter the NFL Draft with college eligibility remaining. Judge Farrell is here to let you know who is making a smart decision and who’s not being so smart.

CLASS OF '18 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Team | State | Position | JUCO

Recruiting: Allen trimmed his list down to Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Notre Dame and UCLA before committing to the Aggies in early June.

College career: Allen began his career in Texas A&M, but transferred to Houston after the 2015 season. With the Cougars, he passed for 751 yards and four touchdowns in four games, before being benched for Kyle Postma.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. Allen has completed his degree but could have still come back and competed for the starting job. Leaving early after transferring from Texas A&M when things got tough and then losing your job in Houston is a bad, bad idea. He might not be drafted.

Recruiting: Cain committed to Clemson after his junior year, but then took an unexpected official visit to Auburn in the days leading up to Signing Day. Despite the late visit, he stayed true to his word and signed with Clemson.

College career: Cain enjoyed a productive, yet unspectacular, career in Death Valley, finishing with 130 receptions for 2,040 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. Cain needed another year of development to improve on route running and being consistent with his hands. He’ll be a mid-round pick barring a great combine.

Recruiting: Fitzpatrick committed to Alabama over Florida State. While he did take an official visit to Tallahassee after making his commitment, he ultimately signed with the Tide.

College career: Playing like a veteran since he stepped foot on campus, Fitzpatrick became one of the defensive leaders for Alabama while earning numerous All-American honors.

Judge Farrell: SMART. Fitzpatrick has done all there is to do at the college level and is ready to become a top 10 NFL pick.

Recruiting: Green took official visits to USC, Miami, Oregon and Arizona State before committing to the Trojans on Signing Day.

College Career: Green began to showcase his talents in 2016, but truly became a playmaking defensive lineman in 2017 with 12.5 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks.

Judge Farrell: SMART. Another year would benefit him but he’s talented enough to land at the end of the first round or at the latest at the top of the second. That’s not too shabby.

Recruiting: Guice committed to LSU during the spring of his junior year, but then ended up taking an official visit to Alabama in January. While rumors persisted that he may look to flip, he did sign with the Tigers on Signing Day.

College career: Despite playing in the shadow of Leonard Fournette until the 2017 season, Guice still managed to rush for 3,074 yards and 29 touchdowns during his three seasons in Baton Rouge.

Judge Farrell: SMART. Mileage is a big deal when it comes to elite running backs, so it’s time for Guice to come out and try to sneak into the first round. Another year of pounding won’t do him any good.

Recruiting: There was little drama in James’ recruiting process as he committed to Florida State more than three years before his Signing Day and never wavered on his decision.

College career: As with Rosen, James saw his sophomore season shortened, but still enjoyed tremendous success in Tallahassee. He finished with 186 tackles, three interceptions and 15 pass breakups in his three seasons.

Judge Farrell: SMART. While his junior season wasn’t as great as projected, he’s an NFL talent and potential top 10 pick so it’s time to move on..

Recruiting: Jefferson took official visits to Texas, LSU, Texas A&M and UCLA before committing to the Longhorns a week before Christmas.

College career: After two productive seasons in Austin, Jefferson took his game to the next level in 2017 with 110 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss and four sacks.

Judge Farrell: SMART. This was a tough call because another season would raise his stock especially the way he played after a slow start, but coming off a great season it’s time to cash in.

Recruiting: Kirk took official visits to Texas A&M, Arizona State, UCLA and Auburn before committing to the Aggies, who were long seen as the favorite.

College career: Finishing with 26 receiving touchdowns and seven kick return scores, Kirk established himself as one of the more explosive players in the country, both at receiver and as return specialist, while with the Aggies.

Judge Farrell: SMART. This was another tough call but Kirk has had a great three years and despite his lack of size if he can have a great combine, he could land late in the first round and you can’t question that.

Recruiting: McCloud committed to Clemson over Florida in the summer, only a couple of days after attending the Gators’ “Friday Night Lights” event.

College career: Totaling 127 receptions for 1,226 yards and four touchdowns during his three seasons with the Tigers, McCloud never seemed to reach his full potential.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. I’m confused by this one because McCloud may not even be drafted and could have come back to a Clemson offense where he could have had a breakout season, especially with Cain leaving.

Recruiting: McFadden had Florida State, Georgia and LSU in his top three, but it was only the Seminoles that pulled in an official visit before his commitment in late October.

College career: While he did not register an interception in either 2015 or 2017, he led the nation in 2016 with eight.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. McFadden had a rough year and his stock has dropped so another year back at FSU might have put him back in the first or second round discussion. He slides into round three or four based on his film.

Recruiting: With his father, Reggie McKenzie, having played for the Vols in the early 1980s, Kahlil didn’t pull any surprises by committing to Tennessee over Arizona during the summer leading up to his senior season.

College career: Coming off of a 2016 season when he totaled only two sacks and 3.5 tackles for a loss, McKenzie surprised many by declaring for the NFL Draft.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. This one makes zero sense as he does not have anything close to the resume to come out early. Because he’s a DT, he could be a late round pick, but he needed to come back.

Recruiting: Nelson trimmed his list down to Notre Dame, Penn State, Ohio State and others, but always held the Irish in very high regard. A spring visit to South Bend put the Irish over the top and a commitment soon followed.

College career: Since earning a starting job in 2016, Nelson has consistently improved his game while becoming one of the top interior offensive linemen in the country.

Judge Farrell: SMART. He should be the top offensive lineman taken in the draft. Coming back would not have helped his draft stock.

Recruiting: Payne, who committed to Alabama over Auburn and Mississippi State at the Under Armour All-America Game, chose the Tide despite growing up being an Auburn fan.

College career: Payne enjoyed his best collegiate season in 2017, finishing with 53 tackles. He also had dominant performances in the CFB Playoff, which ended his time with the Tide on a great note.

Judge Farrell: SMART. Payne is a top 10 pick although many have him going in the middle or end of round one. Either way, it was time for him to start his pro career.

Recruiting: Despite receiving offers from coast-to-coast, Ridley was an early commitment to Alabama and stuck with his word.

College career: Ridley’s best statistical season actually came as a true freshman, but he was still the Tide’s top receiving threat during each of his three seasons in Tuscaloosa.

Judge Farrell: SMART. It’s a pretty weak receiver class and Ridley is the best of the bunch, so he should be the first one off the board.

Recruiting: UCLA and Stanford were considered Rosen’s favorites, so when the Cardinal decided not to offer, he decided to stay local and committed to the Bruins. He did take a visit to Michigan a few days before making his final decision.

College career: Despite an injury shortened 2016 season, Rosen still managed to pass for 9,340 yards and 59 touchdowns in his three seasons in Los Angeles.

Judge Farrell: SMART. He could go as high as No. 1 and shouldn’t be around by the fifth or sixth picks, so why come back to a very average UCLA team and take a pounding?

Recruiting: Scarbrough committed to Alabama at the beginning of his junior season, but then took official visits to Notre Dame, UCLA and Ole Miss during his senior season before ultimately signing with the Tide.

College career: After redshirting in 2014, Scarbrough shined at times while rushing for 1,512 yards and 20 touchdowns, but failed to consistently dominate in Tuscaloosa.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. This is a tough one because Damien Harris is returning and Najee Harris is a future star, but you never know what will happen and who will emerge as the No. 1 guy. His current resume should land him late in the draft and that’s not worth leaving early.

Recruiting: Sweat committed to Florida State over Virginia Tech in December, while both Oregon and Ohio State were also considered until the end.

College career: While the Seminoles had a disappointing 2017 season, Sweat shined with 56 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. He had a solid season but not a breakout one and another year could have put him in the first round instead of the third or fourth where he could land now.

Recruiting: Teuhema was an early commitment to LSU, but then took an official visit to Oklahoma in December before signing with the Tigers.

College career: After starting 11 games as a true freshman and then 10 as a sophomore, Teuhema transferred to Southeastern before the 2017 season after facing an indefinite suspension at LSU for academic reasons. At Southeastern he started 11 games at left tackle.

Judge Farrell: SMART. After transferring for academic reasons and with a poor offensive line class, he might as well come out to see if he can land in round two.

Recruiting: With Georgia being his first offer, the Bulldogs were always seen as the frontrunner. Despite taking closer looks at Auburn, Florida State and USC, he ended up in Athens.

College Career: Thompson’s best season with the Bulldogs came in 2016, but he still managed 38 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss during Georgia’s run to the National Championship game in 2017.

Judge Farrell: SMART. It's not a great defensive tackle class so he might as well throw his hat in the ring and see if he can land in round two or late in round one.

Recruiting: Toliver committed to LSU during his sophomore season, and despite also taking official visits to Florida State, Virginia Tech and Ohio State almost two years later, he still signed with the Tigers.

College career: Toliver showed flashes of his potential with the Tigers, despite seeing his sophomore season shortened due to an injury.

Judge Farrell: NOT SMART. Another year in college and we could be looking at a first- or second-rounder but now he should go in the middle of the draft and that’s not worth leaving early.