Ginn, Johnson, Jarrett OK'd for NFL draft

Star receivers Ted Ginn Jr., Calvin Johnson and Dwayne Jarrett were among the 40 underclassmen declared eligible Friday for this year's NFL draft.

Johnson, of Georgia Tech, and Jarrett, of Southern California, were first-team All-Americans and are expected to go very high in the draft on April 28-29. Ginn helped lead Ohio State to the No. 1 ranking in the nation before it lost the BCS championship to Florida when he was injured early in the game _ after returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Ginn's fellow Buckeyes receiver, Anthony Gonzalez, also was granted the special eligibility for the draft. So was Ohio State running back Antonio Pittman.

The champion Gators have four players entering the draft early, all from their defense: end Jarvis Moss, linebacker Brandon Siler, and backs Ryan Smith and Reggie Nelson.

Other notables entering the draft as underclassmen will be Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, California running back Marshawn Lynch, LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, Michigan defensive tackle Alan Branch, Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem and Arizona State tight end Zach Miller.