How Far Will Colt Lyerla Fall in the 2014 NFL Draft?

September 22, 2012; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks tight end Colt Lyerla (15) runs the ball against the Arizona Wildcats at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Oregon star tight end Colt Lyerla, who was projected by most draft analysts as a top five tight end going into the season, has apparently left the program in Eugene on “good terms”.

Lyerla didn’t shed any light as to why he left the program, but those questions will most definitely be answered the closer the draft approaches.

“I love everyone at Oregon; everyone’s on good terms, I believe. Just for my own benefit, it was time to move on.”

Something must have been going on between Lyerla and new Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich, especially after it escalated to the two having words through the media.

As for Lyerla’s draft prospects, he will still be a coveted prospect for his ability on the field, but teams will most definitely have a red flag around him. Who knows if he quit on his team, or possibly even worse, if his team quit on him?

I don’t think Lyerla will make it out of the fourth or fifth round based on his on-field potential. I don’t know that he is as good as Aaron Hernandez was coming out of college, but we saw Hernandez fall to the fourth round with some pretty significant character concerns. I don’t think Lyerla has even close to those kind of character flaws, but teams will certainly do their digging.

Rob Rang and Dane Brugler of NFL Draft Scout and CBS Sports have, at one point, considered Lyerla a first round tight end. He obviously won’t be that anymore, but certainly could still be one of the top five players drafted at the position depending on what happens between now and May.