Draft deadline winners and losers (cont.)

Losers

In addition to losing several senior starters, Ohio State also saw WR Brian Hartline, CB Donald Brown and star RB Beanie Wells (above) leave school early for the draft.

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1. Ohio State

The Buckeyes lost tailback Beanie Wells, receiver Brian Hartline and cornerback Donald Washington to the draft. Considering they also lose seniors Brian Robiskie (WR), Alex Boone (OT), Malcolm Jenkins (CB), James Laurinaitis (LB) and Marcus Freeman (LB), the Buckeyes may have to replace more proven producers than any other elite team. Fortunately, they have rising sophomore quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who may have the highest ceiling of any player in the country. Also keep an eye on rising junior defensive tackle Cameron Heyward. The son of the late Craig "Ironhead" Heyward is a disruptive force inside.

2. Alabama

The world saw in the Sugar Bowl how the loss of a dominant left tackle can change a team. Granted, the Crimson Tide had only a few days to adjust after learning tackle Andre Smith would miss the game because of improper contact with an agent. Coach Nick Saban and his staff will have months to figure out how to replace Smith and tailback Glen Coffee before the 2009 season. Still, Smith -- whose early exit didn't come as a surprise -- and senior center Antoine Caldwell will be awfully tough to replace, as will senior safety Rashad Johnson. Fortunately, linebacker Rolando McClain isn't eligible to leave until after the 2009 season, and mammoth nose tackle Terrence Cody decided to spend another year flattening SEC ballcarriers.

3. Pittsburgh

The Big East remains pretty much up for grabs, but if LeSean "Shady" McCoy had returned to Pitt, the Panthers could have been penciled in as the preseason favorite. But as players get bigger and faster, the shelf life of backs gets shorter and shorter. McCoy, Pitt's first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher since Curvin Richards in 1988-89, was wise to grab the cash when he could. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt, a former NFL head coach, supported McCoy's decision 100 percent. "When you have exceptionally gifted players, you realize the NFL can be a reality sooner rather than later," Wannstedt said. "Certainly that is the case with LeSean, and we worked to make sure he had all the information needed to make the best decision about his pro prospects."

4. Georgia

It shouldn't surprise anyone that quarterback Matthew Stafford and tailback Knowshon Moreno turned pro; they might be the first players picked at their respective positions. It does, however, put a crimp in coach Mark Richt's offense. But there's a reason the Bulldogs aren't ranked highest in this category despite losing a three-year starting quarterback and a game-changing back. Under Richt, Georgia has been excellent at replacing talent year after year. Remember 2005, when the Dawgs began the season with lower expectations after replacing quarterback David Greene, receivers Reggie Brown and Fred Gibson, defensive end David Pollack and free safety Thomas Davis? That team went 10-3 and won the SEC title.

5. Texas Tech

Michael Crabtree is one of the best receivers we'll see in college football in a long time. He should have entered the draft; he was a man among boys in college. Still, his departure -- along with the loss of senior quarterback Graham Harrell, tackle Rylan Reed and guard Louis Vasquez -- probably will slow down coach Mike Leach's offense. At least for a few weeks.