Texas Christian University running back Ed Wesley wasn’t eligible for the regular NFL draft in April, but he wants to enter the NFL now.
Wesley has hired agent Jordan Woy and plans to enter the NFL supplemental draft, which is scheduled for July 12, according to Adam Caplan of SiriusXM Radio.
After a strong 2010 season in which he rushed for 1,078 yards and 11 touchdowns and was an integral part of the undefeated team that beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, Wesley struggled with injuries in 2011 and saw his productivity decline to 726 yards and six touchdowns. Last month TCU said Wesley was leaving the school for family reasons.
The NFL hasn’t confirmed whether it has approved Wesley or anyone else for the supplemental draft, but the list of eligible players is expected to be revealed next week, and this year there could be up to 10 players available. Other names that have been mentioned as possible entries in the supplemental draft include Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo, Kansas State tackle Manase Foketi and Boston College running back Montel Harris.
The supplemental draft is for players who didn’t declare themselves eligible in January for the regular draft but have had a change in their NCAA eligibility status since then. It’s rare for more than one or two players to be selected in the supplemental draft, and some years there aren’t any. Last year’s supplemental draft had just one player selected, former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, whom the Raiders acquired by giving up this year’s third-round pick. New Raiders G.M. Reggie McKenzie has indicated that he doesn’t anticipate the Raiders being players in the supplemental draft this year, saying he needs to put a halt to the practice of using up future draft picks.
Players who aren’t selected in the supplemental draft are free to sign with any team as an undrafted free agent.