Agent says NCAA sack leader Jaylon Ferguson should be invited to combine, rips NFL for 'vilifying' future player

NFL Network reported Wednesday that Jaylon Ferguson, the NCAA's all-time sack leader, had been uninvited from the NFL scouting combine after the league learned he had been convicted of battery four years ago.

On Thursday, Ferguson's agent issued a pointed response.

In a written statement provided to multiple media outlets, Safarrah Lawson of STL Sports Group argued that Ferguson is "a great person who made a mistake 4 years ago" and deserved the chance to compete at the combine, which begins in Indianapolis on Feb. 26.

"As opposed to penalizing and vilifying the future players of the league, we would hope the league would allow Jaylon and other similarly situated players the opportunity to prove to potential employers that they are remorseful, and have learned from their mistakes, accepted responsibility, want to be good role models and are better people now for it," Lawson wrote in part of the statement.

According to Lawson, Ferguson was charged with one count of misdemeanor simple battery and fined $189 after being involved in a "scuffle" during his freshman year. NFL Network reported the league has informed teams that any prospect who is found to have "a conviction of a felony or misdemeanor involving violence" would not be invited.

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Two other players, Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and Colorado State wide receiver Preston Williams, have also not been invited to the combine due to the NFL's policy.

Ferguson racked up 45 sacks at Louisiana Tech and has been rated as a potential first- or second-round draft pick

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.