South Carolina TE Weslye Saunders Ineligible For Draft, Combine

Former University of South Carolina tight end Wesleye Saunders has been ruled ineligible for the 2011 NFL Draft and Scouting Combine, Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post reports.

According to Wilson, Saunders' representation did not petition the NFL for inclusion on the draft eligible list. As a result, a Combine invitation has been rescinded.

Full Scouting Combine invite list here.

Suspended by South Carolina in August for a violation of team rules, the 6-5, 272-pound tight end was dismissed from the program in mid-September. South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier said that Saunders' dismissal was not related to Saunders falling under investigation by the NCAA over possible contact with an agent during a party in Miami in early 2010.

Saunders caught 60 passes for 718 yards and six touchdowns in his college career.

Off-field issues and missing his senior season certainly dinged his draft stock, but the talented Saunders was expected to be a mid-round prospect. Saunders will still be able to work out for and meet with NFL teams, but his status as an undrafted free agent will hurt his wallet.

Fourth-round picks received signing bonuses between $420K-$553K in 2010, while undrafted free agents typically receive a few thousand to sign. Occasionally, a highly sought after free agent will receive a signing bonus equivalent to a late seventh-round pick (~$30k).

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