Why wouldn't you go? NFL minimum salary is something like 400k. If you are condident in your abilities to play ONE season in the NFL, you could set aside 10% of your earnings and be able to return to college for your final year whenever you want. Then you can use the other 90% to invest, buy a house, or just have one of the best years of your life. If you can stay in the league longer than one year, then you are starting to set yourself up for life.
If someone offered me 400k as a junior in college, I absolutely would have dropped out of school.
Maybe you think that Lynch can earn himself a bigger contract, but I think if he goes pro this year he will probably be drafted and earn way more than the league minimum. Also, he'll be drafted as a project and will have much better coaches to get him to be a better player.
A year sitting on the bench in the NFL, getting NFL instruction, making a nice paycheck >>>> Coming back to USF, sitting in class, learning from a bottom of the barrel DL coach, and only getting 2-6 wins.
EDIT: I totally understand why a competitor would want to stay in school if he had a shot at a national championship, or even a conference championship. Lynch doesn't have that. Go make that money while you still can.
Agreed with this, but he has to make the 53 man roster to get paid. And he "should"...but there are other guys were drafted in the 4th-6th rounds and now they are practice squad guys and they don't make NFL money.
If he is told that he can get drafted 1-4 rounds, you go and continue to work hard. If he's a tweener...tough call!