Former No. 1 recruit Dorial Green-Beckham has found a new home. After being dismissed from Mizzou in April due to a number of legal issues, the star wide receiver has landed at Oklahoma, the school announced.
Oklahoma adding dismissed Mizzou star Dorial Green-Beckham
Green-Beckham was the top recruit in the country coming out of high school, but was booted from Missouri due to legal issues.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
#Sooners head coach @OU_CoachStoops has announced the addition of Dorial Green-Beckham: http://t.co/CvDpRgcgIF pic.twitter.com/MRlOO9gzSp
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) July 3, 2014 Previously, there was speculation that Green-Beckham could land at an FCS school so he wouldn’t have to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. However, he refuted that, and now that he’s chosen the Sooners, he will have to sit out a year before having two years of eligibility unless he gets a waiver, which he will apparently pursue.
The release says he'll be eligible in 2015, but I've been told OU is pursuing a waiver for immediate eligibility #Sooners
— Jason Kersey (@jasonkersey) July 3, 2014 After choosing Mizzou as the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2012, Green-Beckham had a rather pedestrian freshman year, catching 28 passes for 395 yards and five touchdowns. However, he broke out and showed the potential he had as a recruit during his sophomore year, catching 59 passes for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns.
But off-field issues were a problem for Green-Beckham over the course of his career. He missed a game in 2012 due to a marijuana arrest, and he later pleaded guilty to a lesser trespassing charge. He was arrested for marijuana use again in January 2014, though charges were never filed.
The biggest issue came in April, when Green-Beckham allegedly broke into a woman’s apartment and pushed her, causing her to fall down the stairs. The victim decided not to press charges because she was worried about the public backlash of hurting Mizzou football. Green-Beckham was initially suspended, then kicked off the team.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops glossed over Green-Beckham’s off-field troubles in a statement from the school:
"We are pleased to welcome Dorial to the University of Oklahoma, where he is excited to continue his education and resume his playing career," Stoops said. "Dorial understands the privilege and responsibilities of representing the Oklahoma Football program. He is a talented young man who is eager to get to work with the rest of our team in the classroom and on the field."
Green-Beckham also released a statement, briefly touching on his off-field issues:
"I appreciate this opportunity from Coach Stoops and the University of Oklahoma," said Green-Beckham. "There are people here who will help me build a strong foundation. I've disappointed myself and others in the past. I know that I have a lot of work to do and I'm ready to get started. OU is a great program and I feel privileged to be part of it. The university has made the expectations clear and I want to live up to them and be a positive part of the campus and team. I also want to thank Coach Gary Pinkel and the University of Missouri."
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