After his final appeal for reinstatement back into college football was denied, Oklahoma State wideout Dez Bryant has decided to enter the 2010 NFL Draft.
Bryant was declared ineligible by Oklahoma State after misleading NCAA investigators about his relationship with Deion Sanders.
“This year didn’t go the way I wanted it to,” Bryant said. “It was so hard. And to be honest I had my head down at times. But the NCAA has made their decision. And I respect that. And now I’ve made mine.”
Bryant said he hopes to live up to the NFL production of receivers such as Randy Moss and Anquan Boldin. He is projected as a first-round pick.
“When I talk to the NFL I’m going to be truthful with them about what happened,” Bryant said. “It will be what I’m supposed to tell them, which is the truth.”
Bryant has to be diplomatic about the NCAA suspending him, but I don’t.
For the NCAA to suspend a young man for the rest of his junior season for having dinner with Deion Sanders is absurd. I understand that Bryant “misled” them, but considering what goes on behind closed doors on recruiting trips and how most colleges will do anything to keep players eligible for game day, what Bryant did seems minuscule.
That said, he’s going to face some tough questioning from NFL teams and he needs to be honest. Teams are going to know the situation, but they’ll test Bryant’s character and whether or not he makes excuses for what happen or if he owns up to the mistake. Either way, he has tremendous talent and here’s hoping he develops into a solid prospect.
