It should come as no surprise that Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant is going to enter the 2010 NFL Draft after being suspended by the NCAA until next September due to his not-so-little (not in substance, but in consequence) white lie involving his interactions with Deion Sanders.
While not being able to showcase himself in game action isn’t exactly helpful, I don’t see Bryant’s suspension situation having any effect at all on his draft position.
It hasn’t made him slower, shorter, or less athletic.
It doesn’t change the fantastic numbers that he put up for Oklahoma State. 87 catches, 1,480 yards, 19 touchdowns last season. 147 catches, 2,425 yards, 29 touchdowns in 27 career games. Over his last 22 games, he had 131 catches, 2,272 yards, and 28 touchdowns. Oh, and there’s also his three touchdowns as a punt returner.
Is there an issue about how much game film the scouts have to go on? See above, and above.
Besides, you have to consider the unlikelihood of Bryant returning for his senior season. He was already rated as a top prospect before this season, and he was well on his way to further cementing that status this season. In the end, what this amounts to is just a small detour on the way to the same destination.
Now, he’s certainly going to have to discuss everything when he has his pre-draft interviews, but as he knows now, honesty is the best policy, and if he’s honest, he has nothing to worry about come draft day.
It’s all unfortunate how the situation has played out, because college football fans are missing out on seeing a fine talent in action, and Oklahoma State‘s offense has taken a real hit without him on the field.
But on the bright side, being able to get closure with the situation as quickly as he has gives Bryant the chance to look to the future immediately and start preparing for the draft.
He was the top receiver prospect on the board before the suspension, he still is now, and provided he backs it up in the pre-draft process, he‘s not going to wait too long to shake hands with Roger Goodell.
