Despite a football season hardly sprinkled with joy and full of heartache, some standout juniors and seniors have much to look forward to after a dominating Chick-fil-A Bowl win. The 2009 NFL Draft is fast approaching and seniors Tyson Jackson, Herman Johnson and Darry Beckwith are expected to be taken within the first few rounds.  Senior safety Curtis Taylor,  senior center Brett Helms and senior fullback Quinn Johnson look to be taken in the upcoming draft in later rounds.Wide receiver Demetrius Byrd, last year a projected first-round pick, looks to be taken somewhere in the sixth round or later.After a sub-par performance this year in nearly every crucial game besides the Chick-fil-A Bowl, it is no wonder that there aren’t too many LSU players being brought up as possible first-round picks.At a press conference Wednesday, junior offensive lineman Ciron Black and running back Charles Scott announced their decisions to stay for their senior season; LSU is currently No. 1 in recruiting for next season and the return of senior leaders could be all it takes to lead LSU to the top of the SEC in 2009.Underclassmen need to make their decision whether they are staying in school or bypassing their senior year by Jan. 15. Junior wide receiver Brandon LaFell, predicted to go in the second or third round, will forego his senior season and enter the draft, according to sources at ESPN.  Fans are optimistic that most of the departing seniors will do well in the NFL.Sophomore psychology major Aaron Jackson believes that Johnson will be the most successful with Tyson Jackson not far behind.  In regards to the other LSU players in the draft, Aaron Jackson believes “the rest won’t go that high.”Junior defensive tackle Ricky Jean-Francois has already announced he will be entering the draft and will likely be picked up around the second round.  “Ricky should have stayed one more year,” said Aaron Jackson, “it could have helped.”Junior animal science major Brandon Day thinks the players entering the NFL will be successful, but also wishes Jean-Francois would have made the better choice by staying one more year. “Jean-Francois should have stayed to build up his draft stock.”  Day believes LSU has a good reputation in the league and the Tigers entering the draft will help their teams, just as former Tigers running back Jacob Hester has done with the San Diego Chargers.  “Hester got a good supporting role in the NFL,” said Day.Nineteen-year-old public relations sophomore Claire Samford, who went to all but two Tiger home games, believes the departing juniors and seniors will do well in the NFL despite this season’s record.  “I know we have really talented players.”  While Samford is confident in the play of future NFL draftees, Daniella Bryant, freshman math major, is not quite as optimistic about the players’ chances in the NFL.  Bryant believes they “might not prevail” after seeing their play in 2008.  But that’s not to say they should not go.  While most students don’t think the juniors should leave, Bryant does not blame the players for heading off.”If I had the chance I’d go to the NFL,” said Bryant, an idea different from most LSU students who, while wishing the seniors the best of luck next year, are pleading for the underclassmen to stay another year.Most students believe Tyson Jackson and Herman Johnson have the ability to create havoc in the NFL, but other NFL teams are hoping the likes of Beckwith and the other seniors will do the same. Only time will tell how the seniors will fair in the league.    –Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected]