By Larry Neumeister
The Associated Press

NEW YORK - A federal appeals court blocked former Ohio State sensation Maurice Clarett and other young football stars like him from entering the NFL draft this weekend.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Monday the NFL demonstrated that it will probably prevail in arguing that high school stars and college underclassmen should not be allowed to turn pro.

Clarett, a 21-year-old sophomore, had challenged the NFL rule that requires a player to be out of high school for three years before entering the draft. The NFL argued that the rule is for young athletes' own good, because it is designed to make sure they are big enough and strong enough to play with the pros.

In February, U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin sided with Clarett, declaring that the NFL rule violates antitrust law by preventing young athletes from pursuing their livelihoods. She ruled that underclassmen should be allowed to go pro.

But the appeals court Monday blocked Scheindlin's ruling while it takes up the issue.

NCAA president Myles Brand said if the NFL ultimately loses the case, graduation rates for football players could decrease significantly.

"Not because of the small number that may be eligible to go to the NFL," he said, "but rather because of the literally thousands of wannabes who will give up concentrating on their studies, both in high school and college, for that one in a million chance to get in the NFL. And they will be the losers."

NFL lawyer Jeff Pash praised the decision and said the league was looking forward to a final ruling.

Calls to Clarett's attorney and to the Youngstown, Ohio, home of Clarett's mother were not immediately returned.

Clarett will be eligible for the draft next year.

Scheindlin's ruling could open up the NFL to young phenoms the way the NBA has done. Dozens of basketball players, including Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, have gone to the NBA straight after high school in recent years, becoming instant celebrities and signing endorsement contracts that make them millionaires before the ink is dry on their diplomas.

The appeals court said that any potential harm to Clarett from being kept out of the draft was offset by the NFL's agreement to hold a supplemental draft if the appeals court later ruled in his favor.

Eight other players also said they would enter the draft after the initial ruling, but only one, University of Southern California sophomore Mike Williams, is considered a top prospect. Clarett was expected to be chosen in the second or third round.

Williams initiated his own lawsuit Monday, saying the NFL had issued conflicting statements about draft eligibility, causing him to sacrifice his college career.

As a freshman, Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards and led the Buckeyes to a national championship. He was never cleared by Ohio State or the NCAA to play after being suspended last year for accepting money from a family friend and lying about it.