Dorial Green-Beckham Rumors: Latest Buzz and Speculation Surrounding WR

Updates from Thursday, July 3

Oklahoma announced that Dorial Green-Beckham has joined the program. The release specifies that Green-Beckham is not eligible to play until 2015.

Head coach Bob Stoops discussed Green-Beckham's arrival in the announcement.

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We are pleased to welcome Dorial to the University of Oklahoma, where he is excited to continue his education and resume his playing career. 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.

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Green-Beckham also commented in the team's release:

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I appreciate this opportunity from Coach Stoops and the University of Oklahoma. 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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Barrett Sallee of Bleacher Report weighed in on the news of the transfer:

Original Text

Dorial Green-Beckham's football career might be back on track "Sooner" rather than later.    

The former Missouri wideout was spotted in Norman visiting the Oklahoma campus, per Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman:

The Oklahoman's Jason Kersey snapped a photo of Green-Beckham outside the Barry Switzer Center with Oklahoma's co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Jay Norvell and recruiting director Cale Gundy:

There was some confusion about whether this kind of visit is permissible during a "dead period," during which contact in-person with potential recruits is explicitly prohibited. Athnet's John Infante explained how Green-Beckham might be a special case:

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First is if Green-Beckham is not actually "meeting" with the Oklahoma coaches. The dead period does not prevent Green-Beckham from being on Oklahoma’s campus. It also does not prevent the coaches from calling him or taking his phone calls. Picture Green-Beckham strolling around the OU campus while chatting on the phone with the coaching staff. That is permissible.

Second is if Green-Beckham signed a financial aid agreement with Oklahoma. Then dead periods do not apply. And because Green-Beckham is not a midyear enrollee intending to graduate high school early, this interpretation does not apply. So Oklahoma is not at risk for a violation of the letter of intent restrictions if Green-Beckham does not ultimately enroll at OU.

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Kersey indicated that Green-Beckham signed the financial-aid agreement:

Missouri dismissed the would-be junior in April while he was being investigated for shoving a woman "down at least four stairs," per Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com. Prior to that, he also had two marijuana-related arrests.

Because of the circumstances surrounding his departure from the Tigers, Dave Matter of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch said that he'd be surprised if Green-Beckham is granted a waiver allowing him to forgo the one-year transfer rule:

As NFL Network's Ian Rapoport tweeted, that would mean the wide receiver is eyeing the 2016 NFL draft rather than 2015:

Green-Beckham had a breakout sophomore season. His numbers jumped from 28 receptions for 395 yards and five touchdowns in 2012 to 59 receptions for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2013. On talent alone, he'd be a great addition to the Sooners offense.

Putting him together with Trevor Knight would give Oklahoma a great one-two punch in the passing game come 2015. If he can stay out of trouble, bringing Green-Beckham into the fold would be well worth the wait.

That's a big if, however, so this situation will be very interesting to follow as more information develops.