Carson-Newman linebacker Larry Lumpkin is one of eight players available in next week’s supplemental draft, and he’s one of the players who probably won’t be drafted. Because with Lumpkin -- as with so many players who leave their college teams for the supplemental draft -- off-field issues overshadow his on-field ability.
Lumpkin transferred to Carson-Newman, a Division-II school, after playing two seasons at Alabama A&M. And his position coach at Alabama A&M, Jay Martin, told
the Huntsville Times that Lumpkin never cultivated his talent because he never cared enough.
“Larry was a playmaker for us, but he had a lot of issues,” Martin said. “He was constantly late for meetings and he would miss practice at least one day a week. He was very undisciplined. He would have helped us, but he didn’t want to be here.”
Alabama A&M offensive coordinator Cedric Pearl, who serves as A&M’s NFL liason, said the Cowboys and Broncos about have called the school about Lumpkin recently. It’s likely that those teams are more interested in him as a potential undrafted free agent signing after the supplemental draft than in investing a 2013 draft pick on him.
If Lumpkin does get a shot at training camp with the Broncos, Cowboys or any other NFL team, he’d be wise to show up on time. Undrafted rookies don’t get the chance to be “constantly late” in the NFL, because if you’re an undrafted rookie and you’re late once, it’s probably going to be your last day on the team.