Michigan's Peppers popped for failed drug test at NFL combine

April 24 (UPI) -- Michigan star Jabrill Peppers could see his draft stock slip after he tested positive for a dilute sample at March's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

The dynamic defender's sample doesn't prove a banned substance was present in his system, but does constitute a failed test.

Creative Artists Agency issued a statement about the test to ESPN.

"Peppers went to the combine," CAA said. "He was sick after flying there from San Diego. He has a history of cramping. Peppers was being pumped with fluids, drinking 8-10 bottles of water before he went to bed, because he was the first guy to work out two days for the LBs and DBs."

"He had to go through that first day, come back on second day, and that was the fear," CAA said. "So Peppers was pounding water and under the weather. He never failed a drug test in his life, nor tested positive before for any substance."

NFL Network confirmed the report. The NFL has also notified its teams about Peppers' failed test.

Peppers is expected to be a first-round selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, set for Thursday in Philadelphia. One NFL.com analyst has Peppers being taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 19 pick, while another has him going to the Miami Dolphins at No. 22.

Peppers is projected as the No. 17 pick, taken by the Washington Redskins, in UPI's latest mock draft.

Alabama linebacker Reuben Foster is also expected to be a first-round pick in the draft. He also tested positive for a dilute sample at the combine.

Foster attributed his failed test to being sick.

"I couldn't eat much, but I had to drink water and Gatorade," Foster told NFL.com. "Then a few coaches said something about me being too light. And I'm a coach-pleaser. I don't care what everybody thinks, but I care what coaches think. So I drank and ate as much as I could without throwing up. Then I went in there, drinking and drinking water, trying to flush out my system from whatever was making me sick and trying to keep my weight up and took the test."

Peppers, 21, had a tumultuous childhood. His father spent most of his youth in jail while his brother was shot and killed seven years ago. Despite those trials, he went on to become the 2013 USA Today High School Defensive Player of the Year. He won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award at Michigan before becoming one of the most electrifying players in the country. Peppers was the Big Ten Linebacker of the Year last season and registered 72 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss, four sacks and an interception in 2016.

Peppers' NFL.com draft profile compares him to All-Pro safety Eric Weddle. Peppers played more than 10 different positions on the field in his career for the Wolverines. He worked out with linebackers and defensive backs at the combine.