After getting kicked off the football team at the University of Missouri earlier this year, receiver Dorial Green-Beckham is reportedly considering not playing football for any school this fall with the intention of declaring for next year’s NFL Draft.
According to Jeremy Fowler of CBSSports.com, Green-Beckham has still not enrolled at a new school after being dismissed from Missouri in April. In order to play this season, Green-Beckham would have to transfer to a lower division school to be eligible to play. For instance, St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins transferred to Division II North Alabama after being dismissed from the University of Florida.
However, Green-Beckham may elect not to play altogether. Per Fowler, Eastern Illinois - alma mater of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and New England Patriots draftee Jimmy Garoppolo - has not had contact with Green-Beckham and has been led to believe he will sit out next season. Eastern Illinois has been rumored as a potential destination for Green-Beckham.
It would be a similar decision as that of Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu.
Mathieu didn’t play in 2012 after being dismissed from the LSU football team for a violation of team rules. Mathieu enrolled in a drug treatment program and was ultimately selected in the third round by the Cardinals in the 2013 draft.
However, Mathieu was a much more established player at the time.
Green-Beckham had a decent freshman campaign at Missouri before exploding as a sophomore. Green-Beckham caught 59 passes for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns last season for Missouri being booted from the team.
NFL teams could be wary taking a chance on a player with just one stellar college season that was ultimately dismissed from the program. It could cost him an opportunity to be selected higher in the draft than if he played at a lower division school to recoup some value and put more of his ability on tape.
However, talent will ultimately find its way in the NFL. If he’s good enough, someone will give him a chance to show it.