OKLAHOMA CITY -All-America receiver Dez Bryant says he hasn't decided yet whether he'll enter the NFL draft after the NCAA ruled that he will remain ineligible for the rest of his junior season at Oklahoma State.
"As of right now, I'm just thinking about what's going on right now. This is what I'm focused on," Bryant told ESPN in an interview taped in Dallas on Wednesday. "I'm just going to let all that take care of itself. God's got the best decision for me and I'm going to go from there."
Bryant has missed the last four games for the 13th-ranked Cowboys (6-1, 3-0 Big 12) after being declared ineligible by the school for lying to an NCAA investigator looking into Bryant's offseason meeting with former NFL player Deion Sanders.
Oklahoma State has appealed the decision to an NCAA reinstatement committee and expects a decision as early as next week. The Cowboys host No. 3 Texas (7-0, 4-0) on Saturday night in a game featuring the only Big 12 teams unbeaten in conference play.
"I'm disappointed, but at the same time, I respect the NCAA's decision and I also thank Oklahoma State for appealing," Bryant said.
A top NFL prospect, Bryant caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns last season while also scoring twice on punt returns. This season, Bryant led the team with 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns through OSU's first three games.
He could enter next year's NFL draft, where he has been projected as an early first-round pick. He has asked the NCAA to reinstate him by the end of the season, but told ESPN he doesn't know how the appeal process will go.
"They might go my way, they may not," Bryant said. "But at the same time, I'm going to respect whatever happens. I'm just going to move forward."
An interview request for Bryant through Oklahoma State was denied. Bryant's attorney, Willie Baker, said he would not comment on Bryant's case until the appeals process was completed.
In the interview, Bryant repeated his admission that he "made a mistake" while talking to the NCAA investigator. He said he intends to stay with Oklahoma State.
"Just doing my normal routine. I'm just going to get up and go to practice, like I'm supposed to, with the team," Bryant said. "I'm going to support the team and go to class, continue to do my work and just move forward."
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