Laremy Tunsil Reportedly Won't Enter NFL Substance Abuse Program

Miami Dolphins first-round draft pick and offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil reportedly won't be required to enter Stage 1 of the NFL's substance abuse program after video surfaced of the Ole Miss star smoking a bong through a gas mask just before Thursday's NFL draft, a source told James Walker of ESPN.com Monday.

"I do not have a drug problem," Tunsil said after being drafted, per Walker. "You can check all my college tests. I never failed one." 

However, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy refuted Walker's report on Tuesday, per Tom Pelissero of USA Today:

Tunsil and the team said the video was two years old, per Walker. Nonetheless, the video—which was posted to Tunsil's Twitter account—factored into his first-round slide. Once considered a lock to be a top-five pick, he fell to the Dolphins at No. 13.

It was a difficult night for Tunsil, as his Instagram account was also hacked, and text messages were posted online that suggested the offensive lineman had help from Ole Miss coaches paying rent and his mother's electric bill, per Chip Patterson of CBSSports.com.

Tunsil then admitted during a press conference Thursday night that he took money from a coach, per Emily Kaplan of Sports Illustrated:

Despite the controversy with Tunsil at the draft, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was more than comfortable with the pick, per Walker:

"

I think a lot of work is done for months and months, and one [thing] two hours before the draft is totally somebody out to get a guy. It's not a question of this guy changed overnight. The work that we've done on him, the people we've talked to and even subsequently talking to, we're going to continue that. Meeting the kid, you know that this is a good kid. It's going to be a great choice.

"

Indeed, Tunsil could be the steal of the draft. He was once considered the favorite to be the top overall pick before the Tennessee Titans traded the selection, and he has immense talent. He was the top talent on the board when Miami drafted, and he could lock down the team's left tackle position for the next decade. 

It's unlikely he'll play left tackle next season, however, with veteran Branden Albert entrenched at the position. It's more likely that the Dolphins will experiment with moving 2015 right tackle Ja'Wuan James to guard and playing Tunsil at right tackle, at least for a season. But his long-term future appears to be at left tackle.

That future appears to be bright. In the NFL, he'll be given a fresh start. If he takes advantage of it, Tunsil has the potential to be a star.

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