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A record 73 underclassmen, including six first-team All-Americans, were approved for the NFL draft Saturday.
That number was eight more than last year.
The six All-Americans were safety Matt Elam of Florida, tight end Zach Ertz of Stanford, tackle Luke Joeckel of Texas A&M, defensive end Bjoern Werner of Florida State, linebacker Jarvis Jones of Georgia and cornerback Dee Milliner of national champion Alabama.
Only Elam is not projected as a high first-round pick, but all six easily could go in the opening round on April 25.
Several scouts and NFL personnel directors think Joeckel, Werner, Jones and Milliner could go in the top 10.
NFL draft consultant Gil Brandt, the former general manager of the Cowboys, has Joeckel and Werner as his top two prospects.
Also approved was former Louisiana State cornerback-kick returner Tyrann Mathieu, a 2011 All-American. Mathieu, a one-time Heisman Trophy finalist, was dismissed from the team in August after reportedly failing a drug test.
Etc.
The Oakland Raiders have hired former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterbacks coach Greg Olson as their new offensive coordinator.… The Buffalo Bills have hired Pat Morris to be their offensive line coach. … New Jacksonville Jaguars Coach Gus Bradley hired Miami Hurricanes offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch to the same position Saturday, charging him with remodeling one of the league's worst offenses. And Bradley hired longtime Chicago Bears assistant Bob Babich as defensive coordinator.… The San Francisco 49ers have promoted wide receiver Chad Hall from the practice squad to the active roster.