Andrew Luck waited a year before entering the NFL draft, and he might need to wait a while longer before his professional career gets into full swing. Â Read more after the jump.
Stanford’s academic calendar provides an interesting logistical hurdle for the likely No. 1 overall draft pick. Because Luck is an early entrant into the draft and has not yet graduated, and because his school is on the quarter system, he’ll have to wait until he finishes finals to report. The league confirmed that to NFL Network on Friday morning.
The one exception made under the policy is for a club’s rookie minicamp. The Indianapolis Colts, who are widely expected to take Luck, have one scheduled for May 4-6.
The real dates to watch are June 12-14, when the Colts have their full-squad minicamp, the last team activity before training camp kicks off in mid-summer. Stanford’s finals are scheduled to be held June 8-13. It is expected that Luck would be ready in time for that minicamp, according to sources. However, his availability for the three organized team activities — scheduled for May 17, May 24 and June 6 — would be up in the air.
Luck is taking two classes during Stanford’s spring quarter, and upon their completion will graduate with a degree in architectural design.
Indianapolis has been down this road before, and managed the situation creatively. In 2007, the Colts selected Anthony Gonzalez, an Ohio State fourth-year junior, with their first-round pick. Ohio State, like Stanford, is on the quarter system, so Gonzalez couldn’t report until mid-June. So then-quarterbackPeyton Manning went to the receiver, taking it upon himself to drive the three hours to Columbus to teach the rookie the offense.
The Colts have not yet publicly committed to taking Luck, insisting that Robert Griffin III is still under consideration by the club’s new brass, headed by general manager Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano.
The team can sign Luck, or Griffin, at any point between now and the draft.
