Tyrann Mathieu is doing everything he can to make a full comeback into the world of football. After a rocky past, the first thing he is doing is being honest with every NFL coach he talks to. Mathieu has told NFL coaches that he failed over 10 drug test while at LSU, so many in fact that he lost count after a while.
The former Heisman candidate had the brightest NFL future in 2011. While still having to play one more year at LSU per NCAA rules, he was already considered a lock as a first-round draft pick. However, failed drug tests and arrests led him to get kicked off the football team and ultimately dismissed from LSU all together. He was forced to sit out the entire 2012 season while attending drug rehab and getting his life back on track.
Now as he prepares for the NFL draft, Mathieu is being an open book to teams interviewing him. An anonymous assistant coach told USA Today that Mathieu admitted to numerous failed drug tests.
"I quit counting after 10. I really don't know," Mathieu said in a team interview.
Mathieu is working to distance himself from the past that placed a red flag in front of his name. He spent much of the year staying in shape and training for the upcoming season. Mathieu insists that he has been clean of drugs since at least October. He looked impressive at the scouting combine and is approaching each team interview with an "all business" attitude.
Mathieu was originally projected as a mid-third round pick. While he has speed and ability, he lacks the size of a typical NFL cornerback. He is not considered to be an elite talent, but has the versatility to be an immediate starter on special teams and could develop into a top defensive player.
The New England Patriots have heavily scouted Mathieu and are one of 10 teams to bring him in for an official visit and team work out. Many draft experts now believe he has moved into a second round option for a team. The Patriots have set their focus to defense in the upcoming draft and would be a good landing spot for the cornerback.
The Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons have also taken an interest in Mathieu. While those teams both have other needs to focus on in the first round, they could easily be seen as taking him with their second pick. While he represents a risky pick, he could prove to be extremely productive if he truly has moved on from his past demons.