Oregon junior tight end Colt Lyerla has withdrawn from school, having informed UO coach Mark Helfrich late Sunday afternoon that he would be leaving the football program. Lyerla, a former five-star recruit from Hillsboro, finished his UO career with 12 career starts and 34 receptions. He was suspended for the Ducks’ win Saturday at Colorado, but said Sunday his departure wasn’t related to that and was “completely my decision.” “I love everyone at Oregon; everyone’s on good terms, I believe,” Lyerla said. “Just for my own benefit, it was time to move on.” Lyerla said he does not plan to transfer to another school, but rather to pursue a professional career. He said he had “a really good talk” with Helfrich late Sunday, and that “we left on good terms.” “We wish Colt nothing but the best in the future, and will support him in any way we can,” said Helfrich, who said he will decline further comment on the matter. Lyerla, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior with a rare blend of size and speed, finished his UO career with 34 receptions for 565 yards and 11 touchdowns. He added 16 carries for 94 yards and two touchdowns, primarily during a stretch of the 2012 season in which the Ducks deployed him in a special rushing package. This season, Lyerla started three of the first four games prior to Saturday’s suspension. He caught two passes for 26 yards and ran three times for 17 yards and one touchdown. “I wish nothing but the best for coach Helfrich and the team,” Lyerla said. “I love the University of Oregon and am so thankful for every opportunity that I had. I’m going to use everything I learned from this program and do my best to be successful in whatever happens in the future.” Lyerla reported to the team Sunday morning for regularly scheduled treatment with athletic trainers before meeting with Helfrich. Prior to earning honorable mention all-Pac-12 honors in 2012, Lyerla missed the start of preseason camp. But he joined the team in time to play in all 13 games, and was most valuable on two key catches during the Ducks’ touchdown drive late in the first half of the Fiesta Bowl. In Lyerla’s absence, sophomore Pharaoh Brown and freshman Johnny Mundt started the Colorado game on Saturday. Mundt also started against Tennessee, catching five passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns that day. He has seven receptions for 162 yards and two scores through five games, while Brown made his first reception of the season Saturday, after missing several weeks with a foot injury. http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=209277864
Wow, what a huge disappointment. I wonder how far he'll drop in the draft. Has to be some pretty big red flags now. At the start of the season he was a potential 1st or 2nd round draft pick.
Colt is an absolute headcase with substance abuse issues. In an earlier post I stated there was more developing and more info, but was not going to drop the bomb. I allowed Stomp to simply go by the media that it was a one game suspension. It was never that simple. Sometimes, people need to stop pretending the media is the best source of info. I wish Colt the best. I hope he has more in common with Kiko than he does Aaron Hernandez. Right now he's leaning the wrong way. He is tweeting about finding out now who really loves him. Coach Hef and his entire team and many fans loved him and only wanted the best for him. In the end, no one was going to tell him he had a problem or discipline him. I truly wish him the best but I am glad the distraction is gone.
That's some smart thinking by him if that's the case. "I'm not being utilized enough so I'll prove how wrong they are by not playing at all!"
I've heard there has been some relapse in certain areas. He's also a total headcase with an ego bigger than Autzen. I think you could be right as well...in Colt's mind he was the team and wanted more praise and respect -- which is earned. Distraction gone. Pharoah and Johnny are 'next man up'. And, they are pretty damn fine men. WTD...here we come, UW.
Plus, we are blowing people out with virtually zero contribution from Colt so far, so honestly I'm not really worried.
Agreed. His contribution so far has mostly been a distraction and dropped passes. Too bad the freakishly talented guys often morph into something not 'coachable.'
Is he even in the NFL? His introduction to the team his freshman year was one of the all time greats. "I'm Cliff Harris and I'm here to lock shit down!"
Last I read Cliffy was a free agent and looking for a gig. Earlier in the year I thought be pled not guilty on some battery or spousal abuse charges or some BS. Now, here's where it gets interesting. I believe his attorney was John Tyner out of Portland. I also thought I read Thomas Tyner's father is an attorney in Portland. Whhaaaaaattttt!?
