Skip to main content

NCAA's All-Time Sack Leader Disinvited From Scouting Combine After Fighting at McDonald's

Fegurson was convicted of simple battery during his freshman season at Lousiana Tech.

The NFL has disinvited former Louisana Tech defensive end Jaylon Ferguson from participating at the 2019 scouting combine after a background check revealed an off-field issue which rendered him ineligible under the league's policy.

Ferguson was convicted of simple battery during his freshman year after getting into a fight at a McDonald's. The NFL told teams last month that players would be barred from participating at the combine "if a background check reveals a felony or misdemeanor involving violence."

Ferguson's agent, Safarrah Lawson, released a statement saying that he disagrees with the NFL's stance on the issue and hopes it would give Ferguson and others an opportunity to show they've learned from their mistakes.

"Jaylon is a great person who made a mistake 4 years ago before he started playing college football," Lawson said, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "He was involved in a scuffle that resulted in him being charged with misdemeanor simple battery. He received a deferred judgment and $189.00 fine, a proper punishment for a fight between two teenagers. Since that day Jaylon has been a fine and upstanding student athlete that personifies the things we are trying to teach our young people today."

Ferguson, who was named the 2018 Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year, finished his collegiate career as the NCAA's all-time sack leader, tallying 45 through four seasons. He's considered to be a potential first-round pick at the 2019 draft.

In addtion to Ferguson, Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons and Colorado State receiver Preston Williams were not invited to the combine due to ineligibility under the league's policy.

The 2019 NFL scouting combine takes place Tuesday, Feb. 26 through Monday, March 4, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.