New York ? Maurice Clarett is ready to enter the NFL draft, clearing another legal obstacle Wednesday when a federal judge rejected the league’s request to suspend her ruling.

U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin concluded the Ohio State running back could face “very detrimental” harm if excluded from the draft. She said the NFL would not be irreparably harmed if Clarett and other underclassmen are eligible.

“Maurice Clarett’s going to be in the draft,” the player’s lawyer, Alan Milstein, said after the decision.

NFL lawyer Gregg Levy said the league will ask the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay Scheindlin’s ruling while it appeals.

Scheindlin ruled last week that an NFL rule barring eligibility to Clarett and other young players from April’s draft violates antitrust law.

“Contrary to the NFL’s argument, most of the rules governing this case were established decades ago,” she said.

“Indeed, the legal framework for that decision was laid in a long line of Supreme Court precedent,” she added.

Scheindlin said “it would be perverse indeed” to grant a delay of her ruling.

“If a stay is granted, Clarett will miss the 2004 draft,” she said.