NFL's special eligibility list: Players with degrees and degrees of intrigue; See in order of NFL Draft Scout rating

Sep 3, 2022; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ainias Smith (0) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

(Below: See players listed in order of NFL Draft Scout rating)

The list of 86 players to whom the NFL granted some sort of eligibility for 2023 draft is as interesting as your curiosity allows it to be.

It is broken into three categories, we'll call them:

-- Underclassmen eligible.

-- Underclassmen with degree

-- Draft eligible players who can opt out by Feb. 3.

Based on current (but always evolving) ratings by NFL Draft Scout, this overall list is full of the best prospects in the draft, with underclassmen making up nine of the top ten, 26 of the top 32; 43 of top 64 and 52 of the top 98 (or 100).

It starts with Nos.1-2 rated quarterbacks, Bryce Young (Alabama) and C. J. Stroud (Ohio State), followed by Nos. 3-4, linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) and defensive lineman Jalen Carter (Georgia).

In fact, the only senior in our top 12 is at No. 5, quarterback Will Levis (Kentucky), technically a red-shirt senior.

Each of the 69 players granted so-called special entrance met the league's mandated three-year eligibility rule and renounced his college football eligibility by submitting a written application to the league office on or before the January 16 deadline.

The sub-category of underclassmen eligible because they already earned a degree includes three of the top seven -- No. 1 Young, No. 3 Anderson Jr, and No. 7 offensive tackle Paris Johnson (Ohio State). None majored in the trade will get them rich, football, but the degree is a nice fallback, eh?

Most draft fans know all about players in the first two categories. That final group, those who can opt out of the draft by February 3, has a high percentage of interesting intriguing stories. Only one of the four in this bunch seems to be on solid footing, tight end Luke Musgrave, who played parts of four seasons at Oregon State, although only two games last year. We expect him to stay in the draft and rate him No. 70 overall, a second or third round prospect.

Another, quarterback Hank Bachmeier, transferred from Boise State to Louisiana Tech after seeking draft eligibility and if he wants to show he is draftable he NEEDS another year of college. He had some nice games at Boise State, but faded and thanks to helicopter parenting he is parachuting into La. Tech for 2023 in an attempt to perform in a way that the pros will appreciate. Good luck with that, Hank.

That leaves wide receiver Ainias Smith of Texas A&M and tight end Jahleel Billingsley as the remaining two who can opt out of the draft by Feb. 3.

Both seem to have OMG physical ability but are burdened by unwanted luggage and qualify for another college season thanks to the so-called Covid rule. So they petitioned for the draft and have a decision to make.

Smith is a blink-quick, 5-9, 190 pounder who can break open a game as a wide receiver, running back or returner. He played better at Texas A&M than his three-star prep ratings. He was a very reliable target from the beginning as a freshman and in 2021 emerged as one of the best returners in the country. In 2022 he was compiled great stats -- 15 catches at 19.4 yards a grab -- but was sidelined by an ankle injury and decided to shut it down and prepare for the NFL.

He was fortunate to play at all in 2022 after being arrested in July for a DUI and possession of a gun and marijuana. Just as he was about to be suspended, all charges were dropped and he was allowed to play. If he can make an impression at a Pro Day or in the combine, Smith has talent that could be hard for teams to pass up -- if he opts to stay in the draft. He looks like one of those can't-catch-me bad boys that the Kansas City Chiefs seem to like.

Smith's situation seems pretty straight forward compared to that of Billingsley, a marvelously gifted, 6-4, 220-pound tight end who apparently sabotaged his career with a don't-give-a-damn attitude at Alabama and Texas. As a freshman on Alabama's great 2019 team he had little playing time, but in 2020 began to show outstanding potential in a limited role.

But in 2021 he slid down the depth chart and coach Nick Saban told the media it is important to play hard in practice, especially to hold onto a job on a very talented roster. A defensive player became the starting tight end and in 2022 Billingsley transferred to Texas, which had perhaps the most talented group of skilled players in the country, including redshirt freshman quarterback Quinn Ewert, running back Bijan Robinson, and deep threat wide receiver Xavier Worthy.

But Billingsley brought with him a six-game suspension for something that happened at Alabama and wasn't even available for one of the great matchups of the season when Texas almost -- and should have -- beat his former team.

He played four games in 2022, finished in Steve Sarkasian's dog house and talked about either transferring or going into the draft. He still has that choice, but who will want to take the gamble? He was rated in the middle rounds this year before most NFL teams dropped in far down or off their boards.

Here is the entire list. UC-Elig=granted special underclass eligibility; UC-Deg=Underclassman eligible because earned degree; Elig-Option=Player granted permission to enter draft but can opt out by Feb. 3 and return to college.

NDS Rate	Pro. Rd	Status	Player	Pos	School
1	1	UC-Deg	Young, Bryce	QB	Alabama
2	1	UC-Elig	Stroud, C.J.	QB	Ohio State
3	1	UC-Deg	Anderson Jr., Will	LB	Alabama
4	1	UC-Elig	Carter, Jalen	DT	Georgia
6	1	UC-Elig	Murphy, Myles	DE	Clemson
7	1	UC-Deg	Johnson, Paris	T	Ohio State
8	1	UC-Elig	Robinson, Bijan	RB	Texas
9	1	UC-Elig	Ringo, Kelee	DB	Georgia
10	1	UC-Elig	Mayer, Michael	TE	Notre Dame
11	1	UC-Elig	Jones, Broderick	T	Georgia
12	1	UC-Elig	Skoronski, Peter	T	Northwestern
14	1	UC-Elig	Gonzalez, Christian	DB	Oregon
15	1	UC-Elig	Bresee, Bryan	DT	Clemson
16	1	UC-Elig	Smith-Njigba, Jaxon	WR	Ohio State
17	1	UC-Elig	Porter, Joey	DB	Penn State
18	1	UC-Elig	Branch, Brian	DB	Alabama
19	1	UC-Elig	Richardson, Anthony	QB	Florida
22	1	UC-Elig	Johnston, Quentin	WR	TCU
23	1	UC-Deg	Foskey, Isaiah	DE	Notre Dame
24	1	UC-Deg	Simpson, Trenton	LB	Clemson
25	1	UC-Elig	Hyatt, Jalin	WR	Tennessee
26	1	UC-Elig	Washington, Darnell	TE	Georgia
27	1	UC-Elig	Van Ness, Lukas	DE	Iowa
28	1	UC-Elig	Addison, Jordan	WR	Southern California
29	1	UC-Elig	Sanders, Drew	LB	Arkansas
32	1	UC-Elig	Downs, Josh	WR	North Carolina
35	1-2	UC-Elig	Forbes, Emmanuel	DB	Mississippi State
36	1-2	UC-Elig	Phillips, Clark	DB	Utah
37	1-2	UC-Elig	Gibbs, Jahmyr	RB	Alabama
38	1-2	UC-Elig	Smith, Cam	DB	South Carolina
44	2	UC-Elig	Ojulari, B.J.	DE	LSU
48	2	UC-Elig	Banks, Deonte	DB	Maryland
49	2	UC-Deg	Smith, Mazi	DT	Michigan
50	2	UC-Elig	Johnson, Antonio	DB	Texas A&M
52	2	UC-Elig	Tuipulotu, Tuli	DE	Southern California
53	2	UC-Elig	Scott, Tyler	WR	Cincinnati
54	2	UC-Elig	Dexter, Gervon	DT	Florida
55	2	UC-Elig	Boutte, Kayshon	WR	LSU
56	2	UC-Elig	Harrison, Anton	T	Oklahoma
58	2	UC-Deg	Morris, Mike	DE	Michigan
59	2	UC-Elig	Sewell, Noah	LB	Oregon
60	2	UC-Elig	Anudike-Uzomah, Felix	DE	Kansas State
61	2	UC-Elig	Evans, Zach	RB	Mississippi
66	2-3	UC-Elig	Kraft, Tucker	TE	South Dakota State
70	2-3	Elig-Opt	+Musgrave, Luke	TE	Oregon State
73	2-3	UC-Elig	Mims Jr. Marvin	WR	Oklahoma
74	2-3	UC-Elig	Achane, Devon	RB	Texas A&M
80	2-3	UC-Elig	Herbig, Nick	LB	Wisconsin
83	2-3	UC-Elig	McBride, DeWayne	RB	Alabama-Birmingham
87	3	UC-Deg	McClendon, Warren	T	Georgia
95	3	UC-Elig	McKee, Tanner	QB	Stanford
98	3	UC-Deg	Hickman, Ronnie	DB	Ohio State
101	3	UC-Elig	Tippmann, Joseph	C	Wisconsin
103	3	UC-Deg	Turner, D.J.	DB	Michigan
107	3-4	UC-Elig	Wypler, Luke	C	Ohio State
109	3-4	UC-Elig	Wooden, Colby	DE	Auburn
112	3-4	UC-Elig	Ricks, Eli	DB	Alabama
117	3-4	UC-Elig	Jarrett, Rakim	WR	Maryland
118	3-4	UC-Elig	Abanikanda, Israel	RB	Pittsburgh
127	4	UC-Elig	Kancey, Calijah	DT	Pittsburgh
133	4	UC-Elig	Jones, Jaylon	DB	Texas A&M
145	4-5	UC-Elig	Bigsby, Tank	RB	Auburn
149	4-5	UC-Elig	Washington, Parker	WR	Penn State
151	4-5	UC-Elig	Torrence, Rashad	DB	Florida
157	4-5	UC-Elig	Miller, Kendre	RB	TCU
163	4-5	UC-Elig	Joseph, Brandon	DB	Notre Dame
165	5	UC-Deg	Spears, Tyjae	RB	Tulane
170	5	UC-Elig	Roy, Jaquelin	DT	LSU
171	5	UC-Elig	Mitchell, Cameron	DB	Northwestern
173	5	UC-Elig	Vaughn, Deuce	RB	Kansas State
176	5	UC-Elig	Williams, Garrett	DB	Syracuse
192	5-6	UC-Elig	Mitchell, Keaton	RB	East Carolina
215	6	UC-Elig	Austin, Alex	DB	Oregon State
229	6-7	UC-Elig	Tucker, Sean	RB	Syracuse
231	6-7	UC-Elig	Strange, Brenton	TE	Penn State
268	7-PFA	UC-Elig	Valentine, Carrington	DB	Kentucky
327	7-PFA	UC-Elig	Nichols, Lew	RB	Central Michigan
342	7-FA	UC-Elig	Hill, Brandon	DB	Pittsburgh
999	999	UC-Elig	Anderson, M.J.	DE	Iowa State
999	999	UC-Elig	Bradford, Anthony	G	LSU
999	999	UC-Elig	Pelley, J-Min	DT	Calgary (Canada)
999	999	UC-Deg	Douglas, Demario	WR	Liberty
999	999	UC-Deg	Hull, Evan	RB	Northwestern
999	999	Elig-Opt	Billingsley, Jahleel	TE	Texas
999	999	Elig-Opt	+Smith, Ainias	WR	Texas A&M
Ret	Trans	Elig-Opt	Bachmeier, Hank	QB	Boise St./ La. Tech

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