2015 NFL Draft: DE Randy Gregory Failed Drug Test

The NFL is reporting that draft prospect Randy Gregory failed his combine drug test.

The junior defensive end from Nebraska revealed to NFL Media in an interview at his agent's home office that he tested positive for marijuana.

"I blame myself," Gregory told NFL.com's Kimberly Jones. "And I know it sounds cliché, but there's really no one else I can blame."

Gregory's positive drug test did not shock many. The young player has a history of drug problems related to marijuana that dates back to his high school years.

He stated that he first started smoking after he graduated Hamilton Southeastern High School and used it more frequently after failing to qualify at Purdue. After transferring to Nebraska in 2013, he tested positive for marijuana twice in 2014.

"I was worse at Nebraska than I've ever been at any other time of my life," Gregory said. "But I know how I am now. I think if teams really look at how I am now more so than the past, they'll see I'm making strides to get better, as a person and as a player."

Gregory stated that during those times, marijuana helped him cope with anxiety. Now, however, he said he is no longer dependent on the substance and has not smoked since December.

"I don't wake up every day saying, I'd really love to go smoke," he said. "It's not a struggle for me every day (now), it really isn't. In the past, hell yeah, it's been a struggle. It really has been. Now, I'm focused on my dream."

When asked if he was worried about how the positive drug test will affect his draft stock, he answered, "Am I worried? Yeah, I'm worried. At the same time, I'm confident. I know I'm going to be all right in the end. At the end of the day, it was my fault. I was being selfish. I was being stubborn. I felt like I could do things my way and it would work. And it didn't work."

In several mock drafts, Gregory has been listed within the top 10 picks this year. It is hard to predict how his drug test will affect his value, which will ultimately be decided by how tolerant the teams are in regards to his personal issues.

Dane Brugler, a senior analyst for NFLDraftScout.com, wrote, "Gregory has top-10 talent, but with concerns about his growth potential and overall reliability because of his past drug use, it wouldn't be a shock to see him fall past the initial 10 picks. However, it's hard to see him falling too far down draft boards and a team picking in the mid-to-late first round might land the Huskers pass rusher at a reduced price."

Gregory noted that he discussed his drug history in the formal and informal interviews he had with all 29 teams. He stated that if the teams did not bring up the subject, he would.

"I don't want my career to be defined by the fact that I had failed a drug test or anything of that sort," Gregory said. "I want people to remember me as that top-10, top-five (draft pick) that had a 10-year career, a number of championships. I want to be known as that guy. I don't want to be known as a bust or that guy who came in (to the league) with a drug habit."