65 underclassmen eligible for the 2012 NFL draft

A total of 65 players, include key players from Georgia and Georgia Tech, have been granted special eligibility for the 2012 NFL Draft on April 26-28 in New York, the league announced on Thursday. It is the most underclassmen declared eligible for the draft over the last 10 years. That is good news for the Falcons, who do not have a first round pick, because the large number of underclassmen should strengthen the talent pool and could push a good player down to them.  They traded away their first round pick last season in the Julio Jones trade with the Cleveland Browns. The players, including Georgia tight end Orson Charles and Georgia Tech wide receiver Stephen Hill, submitted a written application in which they renounced their remaining college football eligibility. The deadline for receiving applications was January 15. The first round of the NFL draft will be held on Thursday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m. The second and third rounds are set for Friday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m.. …