6’0” – 192 lbs.
Background:
Five-star recruit who appeared in all fourteen games in 2019, going 30-432-5 (14.4). Moved into the slot and posted 43-723-6 (16.8) as a sophomore, then slid back outside and broke out with 70-1,058-12 (15.1) this past season before declaring.
Positives:
Comes with three years of escalating production for a major program, with experience both inside and outside. Very good route runner. Best attribute may be his quickness at the line of scrimmage; can make opponents look silly with his suddenness and footwork against press. Sinks his hips into route stems and adds window dressing as needed to create separation, showing good burst out of his breaks. Very hard to stick with on double moves. Has excellent flexibility and body control to adjust to throws away from his frame. Fast enough to keep defenders in his hip pocket on deep routes when he wins at the line. Creative and elusive with the ball in his hands; does a nice job of mixing things up and making defenders miss in the open field, as well as weaving through congestion for extra yardage. Consequently, is the type of player teams try to manufacture touches for on screens, shallow crosses, reverses, etc.
Negatives:
Size is only adequate for a boundary receiver at the pro level; adjusts well but doesn’t present quarterbacks with a huge target. Functional strength is average at best. Routes can be disrupted by physicality. Can be pinned to the sidelines by bigger cornerbacks when working downfield. Settles into coverage at times against zone. May struggle to come down with contested catches. Not an ideal vertical threat near the end zone. Not a particularly aggressive or physical blocker in the run game, although he does flash solid fundamentals at times. Surprisingly ineffective as a punt returner, despite having the type of athletic profile teams look for in the position; averaged between 4.9 and 7.3 yards per return each season. Is he a true boundary receiver, or will he have to play inside at the next level?
Summary:
One of the quickest and most elusive receivers in this year’s draft; creates separation with his releases and at the route stem, adjusts well to passes away from his body with plus flexibility and body control, and can be very difficult to tackle with the ball in his hands. Those traits could make him an offensive weapon at the next level, although he may have trouble dealing with bigger, more physical receivers at the next level because of functional strength which is just average. That could result in him working more from the slot than as a flanker, although he should still come off the board early.
DRAFTEXAMINER 