Reports: La'el Collins will wait for 2016 NFL draft if not selected Friday
Former LSU offensive tackle La'el Collins will not sign a contract with an NFL team and will re-enter the 2016 NFL draft if he is not selected in the second or third rounds of this year's draft on Friday night, multiple reports indicated.
ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Media's Ian Rapoport bothreported Collins' decision, which comes after the NFL reportedly rejected Collins' request to have his name pulled from this year's draft on Thursday.
Authorities in Baton Rouge, La., want to speak with Collins following the shooting death of a pregnant woman there last week. Police have said Collins is not a suspect, but are not expected to meet with him until after this weekend's draft has concluded in Chicago.
Brittany Mills, a 29-year-old woman, was found dead in her Baton Rouge apartment on April 24. Mills was eight-months pregnant at the time of the murder and was believed to have previously had a relationship with Collins. Her son was delivered, but died on Friday, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter. Police have not determined the nature of Mills and Collins' relationship.
In a response to the police wanting to speak with Collins, his agent reportedly sought to have his name pulled from this weekend's draft so that he could enter the supplemental draft this summer.
Collins was a first-team All-SEC and second-team AP All-America selection for LSU last season.
- Mike Fiammetta
