Ole Miss’ Larry Tunsil slides after controversy strikes during NFL Draft
Apr 28, 2016, 8:18 PM
Ole Miss offensive tackle Larry Tunsil was expected to become a top-10 pick in the NFL Draft but a series of controversies — mostly over his social media accounts — caused him to fall to the Miami Dolphins at 13th overall.
It began when, minutes before the draft, Tunsil’s Twitter account posted a video of the prospect with what appeared to be a bong attached to a gas mask.
Is this really Tunsil…wowhttps://t.co/svcB9b3852
— Bill Michaels (@Bill_Michaels) April 29, 2016
After being drafted, Tunsil admitted the video was from years ago and that he had been hacked.
“Like I said, man, I made a mistake,” Tunsil told ESPN Radio. “That video was from years ago. Somehow someone who hacked my Twitter account got my photos and put it on my Twitter.
“I just don’t know who did it.”
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told ESPN Radio Miami was “very comfortable with all the information we have on the situation. We had heard rumors and we had done [background] work.”
Tunsil’s Twitter profile was shut down but soon after, Tunsil’s Instagram account posted two text conversations allegedly between Tunsil and John Miller regarding payments owed to the player. One John Miller is an assistant athletic director at Ole Miss.
These were just posted on Laremy Tunsil's Instagram account. pic.twitter.com/GIjkFlxDV0
— Hugh Kellenberger (@HKellenbergerCL) April 29, 2016
Tunsil admitted to accepting money from his college program before being ushered off the stage.
Pressed on if there was an exchange of money while at Ole Miss, Tunsil said, “I’d have to say yeah.”
Laremy Tunsil asked if he took money from a coach. "I'd have to say yeah."
— Hugh Kellenberger (@HKellenbergerCL) April 29, 2016
Tunsil just denied an exchange of money between him and his coach. Then, asked again, said it happened. Then interrupted, ushered off stage.
— Joan Niesen (@JoanNiesen) April 29, 2016
And now Laremy Tunsil was pulled off the stage by PR after 3:45. Surreal
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) April 29, 2016