Top receiver Dez Bryant ruled ineligible

by Dan Kadar on Oct 7, 2009 4:33 PM EDT in 2010 NFL Draft

Oklahoma State junior wide receiver Dez Bryant has been declared ineligible by the school. The rule violation was for an improper interaction with a former NFL player.

In an issue released by the university, Bryant apologized to coaches, teammates and fans saying he "made a mistake by not being entirely truthful when meeting with the NCAA."

Oklahoma State has already began to reapplication process with the NCAA.

"We are certainly disappointed, but we are moving forward as we would with any challenge during the season," Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy told reporters today.

Bryant is considered the top draft-eligible wide receiver in college football.On the season, he has 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns in three games. Last season, he caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Many, including myself, expect Bryant to be in the 2010 NFL Draft.

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Wow!

umm….eh…Wow!

one has to wonder if Deon Sanders is doing this on purpose. Isn’t this the 3rd or 4th individual that has been in trouble because of him?

Of course Bryant lied about it to the NCAA – which makes it worse.

http://fourthdownand5.blogspot.com/ - a "playoff"blog

by socmaniam on Oct 7, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

Sorry

But do you have a linK?

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 7, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

Nevermind

Found one. I was looking for it so I could make a fanpost about this on Niners Nation, since lots of people were hoping the Niners would pick Bryant if Crabtree didn’t sign. Fortunately, that’s irrelevant now.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 7, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions

hmm...

I would have thought of him as a top 10 pick, possibly top 5, before this.

Be interesting to see how far he drops, if at all. Cuz if he does, a strong team like the Giants :) is gonna get a beast of a WR.

I don’t think he’ll fall tho. Yea, this indicates that he does have some judgement issues, but its not like when he goes to the NFL that he’s gonna be suspended for interacting with NFL players……

What the f$%k is the internet?

by FreeBradshaw on Oct 8, 2009 8:06 AM EDT reply actions

How much does this hurt his draft stock?

If before he was a top 10 pick, is he now just a top 15 pick due to slight uncertainties? Or not at all since his violation looks pretty minor to me. I don’ t see what’s wrong with him working out with Deion Sanders or whatever it is he did.

by LantermanC on Oct 8, 2009 3:08 PM EDT reply actions

I don’t think it hurts him at all. The NCAA seemed more upset that he lied about it.

by Dan Kadar on Oct 8, 2009 3:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Shouldn't it hurt him because teams have less film to evaluate him on?

I’d heard he’d been inconsistent so far this year. I suppose the Combine could make up for that somewhat.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 8, 2009 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree…It sounds like it’s really not that big of a deal. I know he can’t play, but I don’t think you can question his character. He was working out with someone he thought could make him a better player. He wasn’t using illegal drugs, steroids, or breaking the law in anyway.
His draft stock was very high and only could have gone down over the next few months. As long as he performs well at the combine, he’ll be a top ten pick.

"It's almost like we play a kid's game for a king's ransom"
Sean Taylor

by MBoz126 on Oct 8, 2009 7:05 PM EDT reply actions