We mentioned this morning the six names eligible for the more-discussed-than-important supplemental draft.
But one name that’s not on the list is creating what seems to be an unusual precedent.
According to Mike Garafolo of FOXSports.com, Stony Brook tackle Michael Bamiro won’t be in the supplemental draft and has been declared a free agent, able to sign with any team. One personnel director told Garafolo that Bamiro had a fifth- or sixth-round grade.
The confusion began when the 6-foot-8, 335-pound tackle was denied a waiver from the NCAA for another year of eligibility, even though he was planning to play a fourth season at the New York college this fall. He had already been named to a preseason FCS All-American team, anticipating his return.
But the NCAA declared him ineligible because he attended the University of Pittsburgh in 2008 but didn’t play football. He transferred to Stony Brook in 2009 and redshirted, and played the last three seasons there, earning All Big South honors last year.
Bamiro is being represented by former NFL lineman Bill Conaty, and he’s training with former Eagles tackle Tra Thomas.
“He’s huge. He has hands twice the size of mine, and I’m 6-3,” Conaty said. “The biggest thing teams love about him is he can bend well. At that size, being able to bend well and redirect is huge. His ceiling is a lot higher than most people’s.”
Technically speaking, Bamiro was eligible for the regular draft in April, only no one knew it at the time.
So now, he’ll work out for NFL teams Thursday, hoping to land a spot without going through the draft process at all.
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