OSU Declares WR Dez Bryant Ineligible

All-America college football wide receiver Dez Bryant has been ruled ineligible by Oklahoma State, 4 days before the 15th-ranked Cowboys’ first Big 12 game. OSU plays Texas A&M (3-1) at 12:30pm this Saturday.

Oklahoma State University announced Wednesday that Bryant “failed to openly disclose to the NCAA the full details of his interaction with a former NFL player not affiliated with OSU.”

Rumors are this involves an offseason workout with former NFL defensive back Deion Sanders that Bryant never informed the NCAA about.

The NCAA interviewed Bryant twice about the incident. Before the season started and also on Sept. 11, the day before a game against Houston, asking if he had visited Sanders’ home, if he had worked out with Sanders and also if he had had any interaction with agents.

Bryant told them no to all questions. Bryant is expected to say that he wasn’t sure if it was a violation to visit with Sanders. Bryant has been told he has been suspended because he lied about the answers to the first two questions.

Sanders is not or has never been affiliated with Oklahoma State and the incident does not involve anyone else associated with the university, the athletic program or the school’s alumni, donors or boosters, the school said.

The Associated Press is reporting Bryant released a statement apologizing today. No word on the length of the ineligibility yet.

“I made a mistake by not being entirely truthful when meeting with the NCAA,” Bryant said in a statement released by the university. “I sincerely regret my mistake and apologize to my teammates, coaches, OSU fans and the NCAA.”

Last season, he caught 87 passes for 1480 yards and scored 21 touchdowns, including 2 on punt returns. This season, Bryant leads the team with 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns. He left Oklahoma State’s 41-24 win against Rice after taking a hard hit and sat out a 56-6 win against Grambling State two weeks ago.

Bryant is still projected to be a top 10 pick in the upcoming NFL draft.