Dez Bryant likely to enter NFL Draft
BY BRANDON CHATMON, Staff Writer, bchatmon@opubco.com
Comments 
54
Published: November 6, 2009
STILLWATER — Watching what has happened to his former pupil makes Lufkin (Texas) High football coach John Outlaw cringe.
Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant, a former Lufkin High star, had his final appeal for reinstatement denied on Thursday after the NCAA last week ruled him ineligible for the remainder of the 2009 season. "I think they (the NCAA) made an example out of Dez,” Outlaw said. "He didn’t kill anybody; he’s not selling dope. There’s a lot of worse things people could do.” Outlaw said he saw Bryant last weekend and talked, at length, with the Cowboys receiver. Bryant, a potential top-10 pick, told Outlaw he is planning to enter the NFL Draft. "He’s going to Tampa to get himself ready for the (NFL) combine,” Outlaw said. "He’s the type of kid ... I just don’t think a college degree was going to be a big benefit to him. Had I wished he would have finished it? Yeah.” Bryant was ruled ineligible on Oct. 7 for lying to NCAA officials about his interaction with Deion Sanders. On Oct. 13, Bryant and OSU officials flew to Indianapolis to meet with NCAA officials to request reinstatement this season, but the NCAA denied that request on Oct. 27. OSU immediately appealed the decision to the NCAA Student-Athlete Reinstatement committee, and that appeal was denied on Thursday. That decision, coupled with Bryant’s likely departure to the NFL, could mean the end of a superb collegiate career. He had 147 catches for 2,425 yards and 29 touchdowns at Oklahoma State. "He’s not bitter at anybody,” said Outlaw, who called Bryant the best player he’s coached in his 33-year career. "He admitted he made a mistake, he told the NCAA after he made the mistake. He doesn’t have a guilty conscience, he hasn’t done anything wrong. "I don’t know what it’s like to be 20 years old and have that many people after you, I can’t relate to it. I’m 57 years old, and if Deion called and invited me, I’d probably go.” The long-time coach tears up when he thinks how much Bryant overcame to become an All-American at OSU. "If you knew what that child has gone through, you’d have tears in your eyes like I do when I think about it,” Outlaw said. "I could write a book about what he had to go through.” Bryant made a mistake by lying to NCAA officials, and while Outlaw understands Bryant should pay for that mistake, it hurts him to see his former player have his final season at OSU taken away from him. "Football is everything to Dez,” Outlaw said. "He has a passion for the game and he’ll prove that when he gets his chance. He’s a fine young man. He’s had his problems, but who hasn’t?”
ESPN reported late Thursday night that Bryant will enter the NFL Draft.
“I feel this is the best decision for me,” Bryant told ESPN. “It's what God wants me to do. I'm going to start my training Tuesday in Tampa.”
Related Topics:
Sports, Football, College Athletics, College Football, NFL Draft, Professional Football
Prev
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
You must be a great judge of character based on that. By the way, those same scouts you keep talking about have Bradford out of the top 10 and Dez in it. Just an FYI.
And Todd, you shouldn't really give anyone crap about where they went to college. You went to goat humping class and flunked out.
One thing is for sure, though - in a couple of years we will be seeing all 3 of them on TV.
Dez making highlight reel plays in the NFL.
Okung anchoring a line in the NFL.
And overrated glass shoulder Sammy standing next to Jason White selling heating and air conditioning units.
But Bradford has character.
LOL @ dustin
What an idiot.
dustin, Shannon is right. Bradford will go later than you think in the draft.
The fact is each team will understand more what they need at the season's end. If the teams who draft first don't need a QB, Bradford goes later. For example, Detroit won't draft Bradford. Same thing with WR.
We don't know until the draft because of possible trades and such. All I'm saying is Bryant's character will be questioned and he has to know how to respond positively.
Once again, Shannon mock drafts don't mean anything. The real draft does. I bet you feel that success in a fantasy league predicates football knowledge.
I've been a fan of this sport since I was a boy and I don't pay attention to mock drafts.
LET ME REPEAT, NO ONE KNOWS WHO IS DRAFTED WHEN UNTIL THE DRAFT. It can't be more plain than that.
The comments about Bradford wowwing scouts comes from the scouts themselves. They have admitted that they have enough information on
Bradford. But he still has to impress at the combine.
What was your degree in ? Animal Husbandry?
All I can say is watch out Mel Kiper, Jr. becuase Dustin is coming for your job!...you tard
Can't find a current mock NFL draft that has overrated Sammy higher than Dez Bryant or Russell Okung?
Reality hurts doesn't it?
Well, thanks for playing.
Along with all these guys everyone considers experts (Dustin you are the idiot and obviously know nothing about football):
http://newnfldraft.com/
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/Mock-Drafts/2010-nfl-mock-draft.html
Face it, nobody wants overrated Sammy Bradford with his glass shoulder.
His character should serve him well making commercials for heating and air conditioning devices with overrated Jason White.
Gouge a players eyes (assault) = 1 game self-imposed suspension
School buys your mother a house and pays you to play = No suspension
Tell a lie = End of college career???
Whats wrong with this picture?
Pro teams do factor in character when making a draft, thank Pac-Man for the renewed emphasis.
What happens at the combine when scouts press Bryant on the suspension? Will he be honest? Scouts will know the truth because the NFL is investigating Deion and the open records/freedom of information acts. Catch Dez in more lies and he'll be lucky to be in the top 15.
You must be one of those idiot scouts that also has Colt McCoy ahead of Bradford. Make no mistake, Bradford has zip and accuracy. The shoulder injury is not unique among quarterbacks. Scouts have enough information about Bradford. He can read defenses, make check downs, and deliver the ball accurately. He doesn't have the strongest arm but the pros outweigh the cons. Bradford has shown time and again, he can play. Get off OSU homer status.
BOOMEER SOONER
Secondly, you've got to love how OSU lised Dez as "injured" for the Grambling game. Then they say,"No, he was really 'suspended'." OSU really wanted him back for the Texas game...too bad he wouldn't have made a difference.
He's not the only one: several "smart" (3+ GPA) athletes, all of whom ESPN absolutely adores, are completely inarticulate and redundant when interviewed. On the other hand, Bradford is sharp.
All of you OSU homers, Dez lied again: During his interview in Texas he said he'd practice with the team and attend class as usual (Gotta maintain the 3.5). At the time he wasn't with the team (Sam Mayes says that Tuesdays are pretty important during the CFB season). Now he's quitting school and officially ditching his teammates.
NCAA didn't suspend him for "lying" as many of you claim,"...Alabama player lied about real violations and only suspended six weeks; in contrast, Dez lied about nonviolation and gets suspended for one calendar year." IN CASE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS, Dez wasn't martyred. The "lying to the NCAA" example has been set. There was precedent. There is much more to this case and dialogue released from the open records request will substantiate this.
The fact is Dez repititiously lied not only to the NCAA, but also to the OSU compliance office and coaches, and even lied to his attorneys representing him in his dealing with the NCAA.
If there isn't more to this case, then the NCAA is just flat wrong (with the more appropriate suspension being 3 games).