The NFL Draft is always a great moment for players who ultimately get their name called, put on their team hat and jersey, and learn where they will ultimately play next season. However, three players may get their jerseys a little late after they were stolen by attendees of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Two students that go to the University of Southern California were reportedly caught on camera leaving their hotel at 1:00 a.m. last Friday night in Kansas City, Missouri.
They then entered the backstage area of the NFL Draft stage where they were not credentialed to be.
According to KCAL News, 19-year-old Jude Ocanas and 41-year-old Eric Lambkins, two journalism majors at USC were identified as the suspects in the incident.
The two seemingly got passes for the event thanks to their roles at the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC, as one USC student detailed to KCAL News.
“We had Annenberg passes that like cover different events,” the USC student said. “There’s definitely a level of trust that they have in us, so I hope they don’t take that away.”
Both Ocanas and Lambkins were ultimately arrested last Friday as they were about to board a flight. Their bags were checked and two of the three jerseys were found in their suitcase. Among the jerseys reportedly stolen are from the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings.
Ocanas and Lambkins face charges of second-degree burglary and first-degree trespassing.
This obviously isn’t a good look for USC, and the university is reportedly fully cooperating with authorities.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.