Now Quinton Coples can celebrate at his own draft party, with no questions asked.

In May, 2011, Coples was investigated by the NCAA for his presence at a post-draft party in Washington D.C. He attended with former North Carolina teammates Robert Quinn and Marvin Austin, who was chosen by the Giants in the second round. The NCAA wanted to know how Coples paid for his travel to the party, who paid for his admission and his hotel, and if he accepted any free food or drink.

Coples supplied hotel receipts and was cleared of any wrongdoing -- another tumultuous chapter in his stay at Chapel Hill. There also was the agent scandal.

Austin missed the 2010 season after being dismissed by the Tar Heels for violations of NCAA agent benefits, preferential treatment and ethical conduct rules. The NCAA also ruled Quinn and WR Greg Little permanently ineligible for the same violations.

North Carolina opened last season without 13 players, including many stars, because of an NCAA investigation that included a look into both agent extra benefits and also allegations of academic misconduct.

Coples, speaking to reporters Thursday night after being chosen by the Jets in the first round, sounded relieved after a long, eventful year.

"It's unbelievable, the perseverance it took," Coples said. "It's unbelievable to get rewarded and be a Jet."

Naturally, the Jets did a thorough investigation. They determined that the turmoil may have played a minor role in Coples' disappointing senior year.

"I think it was a small part in it at best, because he was a kid that went through everything that went on there," said Joey Clinkscales, the Jets' VP of college scouting. "He stayed above the fray. He never really got into any trouble ... The kid stayed clean through all the transitions with all the coaches."

Coples had two head coaches and four position coaches.

NO TRADE-ZONE: After all the chatter about possibility trading up or down, the Jets stayed put and drafted Coples at 16. GM Mike Tannenbaum said they received some calls from teams looking to move up. The Jets, who used most of their allotted time, were interested in moving down, a source said, but they couldn't find the right deal.

At 18, the Chargers were looking to move up. The Jets could've dropped two spots and would've been guaranteed to get Coples or South Carolina OLB Melvin Ingram or Syracuse DE/OLB Chandler Jones, but they didn't want to risk it. Ingram ended up going to the Chargers at 18, Jones went to the Patriots (in a trade-up) at 21.

HERE'S THE BEEF: The Jets certainly have rebuilt their defensive line in the last two drafts. Last year, they took DE Muhammad Wilkerson (first round) and NT Kenrick Ellis (third). Now they have Coples, who will play left end, Mike DeVito's spot. This doesn't bode well for DeVito's long-term future with the team; he's entering the final year of his contract.

HANDS-ON COACH: Rex Ryan attended the North Carolina pro day and got up close and personal with Coples, putting him through extra drills.

"He went through all the defensive-line drills and he wasn't winded, so I wanted to push him," said Ryan, who tested Coples in linebacker drills.

Ryan said he couldn't get him tired, and he remembered turning to someone and saying, "I think I just made this young man a lot of money."

DAY TWO: On Friday, the Jets will have two picks -- second round (47th overall) and third round (77). They will be looking for a wide receiver, a safety and an offensive tackle.