Dorial Green-Beckham’s tenure as an Oklahoma Sooner are over as the talented, but troubled, wide receiver declared for the NFL Draft on Tuesday. Green-Beckham was not allowed to play due to NCAA rules after transferring from Missouri last April. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops figured that this is how it may play out.
“(Green-Beckham) had great character through here, did well in classes, worked hard for us”.
Beckham was dismissed from Missouri after having several run-ins with the law. He allegedly pushed a female student down a set of stairs. Although no charges were filed, the Missouri coaches had enough. Oklahoma allowed Green-Beckham to attend if he adhered to a set of rules that included rehabilitation for drug use, drug testing, and was under a zero-tolerance policy.
On the field Green-Beckham is a special player, as he was ranked in the top five players coming out of high school. In two seasons at Missouri, Green-Beckham caught 87 passes for 1,287 yards and 17 touchdowns. At 6-6, with his size combined with his ball skills, he should be a first-round pick and is ranked as the fifth best receiver by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
The only thing that would hold him back is his past issues, but Stoops believes Green-Beckham has turned that around and stated that he “believes in young people and helping them improve and move forward in a positive direction. Dorial contributed to us in a positive way.”
In addition to losing Green-Beckham to the draft, the Sooners will also be without the services of red shirt sophomore Jordan Phillips, who also declared early to go pro. Phillips recorded 38 tackles, with seven of those for loss in 2014. Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Phillips as the fifth best defensive tackle in the draft.
*Section Photo credit to Mike Ehrmann,Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Denny Medley, USA Today Sports.
