THE SIDELINES : 4 Underclassmen OKd for NFL

NEW YORK —  Four underclassmen, including Keith McCants, the Alabama linebacker projected as the first choice, have been granted permission to enter the April NFL draft.

NFL spokesman Joe Browne said that in addition to McCants, the NFL has granted the petitions of running backs Emmitt Smith of Florida and Barry Foster of Arkansas and quarterback Scott Mitchell of Utah.

Last month, Commissioner Paul Tagliabue lifted many of the NFL’s restrictions on drafting underclassmen, making juniors and red-shirt sophomores eligible. All must submit petitions renouncing their college eligibility by March 22, a month before the draft.

McCants, Smith, Foster and Mitchell are the first to be officially declared eligible since new policy on the draft was announced. All four are expected to be high draft choices with McCants and Smith projected among the first five players chosen.

In a related development, star junior linebacker Ron Cox has decided to forgo his senior season at Fresno State to enter next month’s National Football League draft. Cox is considered by many to be the best linebacker in the school’s history.