Dorial Beckham-Green is a very large, very talented wide receiver who’s eligible for the NFL Draft. But there’s a catch, beyond the 87 he made in college for 1,278 yards and 17 touchdowns over two seasons.
The wide receiver was the nation’s No. 1 high school recruit in 2012 when he committed to his in-state school, Missouri. At that point, he was the prized recruit with a tragic backstory—in and out of foster care, adopted by his high school coach, a little brother battling leukemia—but a clear path to the NFL in front of him.
Two years later, he was gone. After multiple drug-related arrests and failed drug tests, Green-Beckham finally reached the limit of what Missouri coach Gary Pinkel would tolerate when he was accused of forcibly entering his girlfriend’s apartment and pushing a woman down a flight of stairs. Pinkel greased the way for a transfer to Oklahoma, but the NCAA waiver that Green-Beckham hoped for never came down, and he never played a down for the Sooners.
But hey, check out how good he looks catching passes from Colin Kaepernick.
#49ers Colin Kaepernick working out with WR prospect Dorial Green-Beckham. Ideal match? (Via @MrPTown49) pic.twitter.com/zGAg35Zicz”
— Dylan DeSimone (@DeSimone_80) February 20, 2015
Would the 49ers possibly risk another Ray McDonald situation? The man they call DGB was never arrested for the previously mentioned incidence of alleged domestic violence, but the details don’t look too good:
A police investigation of a suspected burglary involving Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has been closed without an arrest, primarily because of reluctant witnesses who fear retaliation and harassment for bringing a criminal complaint.
Coach Gary Pinkel announced the junior receiver’s indefinite suspension Monday for an unspecified violation of team rules.
On Thursday, Columbia police reported they can’t proceed with a case that began early Sunday when an 18-year-old Missouri student said Green-Beckham forced open her apartment door at 2:30 a.m. while trying to see his girlfriend, a friend of the victim.
The woman said Green-Beckham pushed her down at least four stairs.
Another roommate told police the 6-foot-6, 225-pound athlete pushed the first woman with two hands to the chest. But later that night, the two told a detective they didn’t want to press charges.
A police report released Thursday shows Green-Beckham’s girlfriend sent 16 text messages to the woman asking her to reconsider pressing charges. The responding police officer had already applied for a warrant for Green-Beckham’s arrest on a felony charge of first-degree burglary.
“Dorial was wrong in every way and you have every right to be furious,” one message reads. “I’m not sticking up for him but football really is all he has going for him and pressing charges would just ruin it for him completely.”
“If you didn’t want to press charges just say we all had a lot to drink and what not everything is fine,” Green-Beckham’s girlfriend later wrote.
On the other hand, DGB would be a top-10 pick if it weren’t for all the character concerns. But it’s highly doubtful that the 49ers would select Green-Beckham in the 2015 Draft. First of all, the 49ers are picking 15th, which is probably too early to snag Green-Beckham. Just imagine: the 49ers’ only pick on the first day, the avalanche of “winning with class” jokes …
A lot will change between now and the draft in terms of teams’ draft boards, but there’s at least a chance the 49ers could get one of a few other top receivers (like Amari Cooper, Kevin White or DeVante Parker) with that pick. And if they don’t go with a receiver at No. 15, chances are DGB will be gone before they get their turn in the second round (No. 46).
Someone is going to gamble on Green-Beckham, but one would think the risk-taker be a winning team that hasn’t had many arrests, an organization whose fans staunchly believe they can do no wrong …
