Two days away from the 2014 NFL Draft, and bad news has come for Timmy Jernigan, Zach Mettenberger, and Telvin Smith.
According to FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer, the three prospects failed the Combine drug test and were among 10 to either test positive for drugs or have a diluted urine sample.
Source confirms #FSU DT Timmy Jernigan failed a combine drug test (as @JayGlazer reported). A surprise. Wasn’t considered a character risk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 6, 2014
Important detail RT @JayGlazer: Jernigan was diluted sample like mettenberger. Each team looks at that differently…
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) May 6, 2014
FSU DL Timmy Jernigan’s diluted sample at combine result of overhydrating per his agent Sonny Shah
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) May 6, 2014
Jernigan has the highest chance of being a first-round pick on Thursday, though his stock had slipped a bit even before this news surfaced. Jernigan’s agent, Sunny Shah, declined comment when asked about the failed test by FOX Sports.
Mettenberger, one of the popular quarterbacks floated around as a second-round selection, blamed his diluted urine sample on overhydrating while rehabbing his torn ACL. His agent, Loe Linta, told CBS Sports there were “zero trace levels” detected of any illegal substances, and the excess water was to help combat severe cramping.
“The kid didn’t do anything wrong,” Linta told CBS Sports. “He was doing what the doctor told him to do.”
Both Smith and his teammate Christian Jones failed the Combine drug tests in February, joining the likes of LSU defensive tackle Anthony Johnson and Miami offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson.
Smith’s agent, Adisa Bakari, also declined comment. Johnson’s agent, Jeff Guerriero, told FOX Sports he had not heard anything of that nature from the league.
“We have not been contacted nor has the player,” he said. “No NFL team has commented on the alleged incident to us. We have no knowledge of the alleged incident.”
