Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops confirmed today that wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has told him that he plans to enter the 2015 NFL draft, according to Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports. It was rumored early in the season that the junior wideout would stick around with the Sooners for the 2015 season but that no longer appears to be the case.
Green-Beckham actually began his college career at the University of Missouri. However, a handful of off-field incidents, including several violations involving marijuana, got him dismissed from the school last April. Green-Beckham had just completed a season in which he hauled in 59 receptions for 883 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Yet his off-field behavior derailed what was shaping up to be an impressive college career.
Green-Beckham joined Oklahoma for the 2014 season but was not permitted to play this year due to NCAA transfer rules.
ESPN's draft insider Mel Kiper believed that had he stayed on the field, he would have been in the conversation as the 2015 draft's top wide receiver, along with Alabama's Amari Cooper.
"The upside: At nearly 6-foot-5 and 225-plus pounds, he'd have a chance to challenge Amari Cooper as the top wide receiver in the 2015 draft class if not for his significant off-field red flags," Kiper wrote. "And even though he was kicked off the team at Missouri, his talent level may be too tantalizing to pass up.
"The downside: There are other good wideouts in this draft, and Green-Beckham could passed on..."
CBSSports.com has Green-Beckham ranked as the 26th overall prospect in this year's draft and fifth among wide receivers. Rob Rang has Green-Beckham being selected 15th overall by the San Francisco 49ers.
"Blame Colin Kaepernick all you would like for the 49ers' offensive struggles, but his job isn't made easier with a lack of playmakers among his receiving corps," Rang wrote. "Green-Beckham is a top 10 talent who is drawing comparisons to Cincinnati Bengals star A.J. Green for his size, speed and ballskills, but he comes with significant off-field concerns. GM Trent Baalke has been more willing than most to gamble on talented players with character red flags."
