Somewhere along the lines, the idea of a college team releasing its first depth chart became a thing. I suppose it is largely because – unlike the NFL – the college preseason is not a public event, complete with preseason games and completely open and covered training camp practice sessions.
The media waits on pins and needles to see who the coach will line up where. Who has been give the #1 spot at WR? How do they stack the corners?
In the NFL, there is no such drama, since we have pretty much seen it all decided in public.