Report: NFL confirms 23 of top selections to be on hand at upcoming draft
The NFL confirmed Wednesday that 23 of the expected top selections will be on hand during the 2013 NFL Draft on Thursday, April 25, according to a report on NFL.com. All 23 have accepted the league's invite, the report added.
The list includes: BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah, West Virginia WR Tavon Austin, North Carolina G Jonathan Cooper, Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher, Florida DT Sharrif Floyd, Alabama OT D.J. Fluker, Texas A&M OT Luke Joeckel, Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson, Oregon DE Dion Jordan and Alabama RB Eddie Lacy.
Others include Florida State QB E.J. Manuel, Alabama CB Dee Milliner, LSU DE Barkevious Mingo, Tennessee WR Cordarrelle Patterson, LSU S Eric Reid, Florida State CB Xavier Rhodes, Missouri DT Sheldon Richardson, West Virginia QB Geno Smith, Washington CB Desmond Trufant and Texas S Kenny Vaccaro.
Lastly are Alabama G Chance Warmack, Florida State OT Menelik Watson and Florida State DE Bjoern Werner.
Surprisingly, several other players either were not invited or turned down the NFL's invitation to attend. Among the latter was Utah DT Star Lotulelei, who was ranked 16th overall by NFLDraftScout.com.
Lotflelei released a statement that read, "Being invited is a tremendous honor and I am grateful for the consideration. After discussing it with my family I have decided to stay in Utah for the draft so I can share this moment with all the people that have supported me my entire life. I expect over 50 family and friends at our home for this wonderful occasion."
Also not attending are USC quarterback Matt Barkley and Notre Dame linebacker Manti T'eo.
