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| 11 |
Chris Harper WR, Kansas State |
6-1 |
234 |
6.9 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Harper is a big, physical receiver that excels at using his frame to shield the defender from the ball. He is physical against press coverage and is able to run through contact and stay on his line. When the ball is in the air, he shows the ability to consistently high point and adjust to the ball in the air, as well as secure catches while absorbing big hits. He displays outstanding hands, as he naturally and quietly plucks every ball without letting it get into his body. Harper is also an aggressive runner after the catch, showing better than expected straight-line speed and the ability to consistently break tackles in the open field with his power. He is a competitive blocker that does an excellent job of locking out and keeping his feet moving to sustain blocks in space.
WEAKNESSES - Harper does not have quick twitch explosiveness, and will struggle to create consistent separation at the next level. He tends to get into his break too upright, and because of his long legs he struggles to change directions fluidly or accelerate out of his cuts to create space against man coverage. While he has good long speed, he does not accelerate to top speed quickly and is not a threat to stretch the field vertically. After the catch he at times runs with the ball exposed, leaving him susceptible to strips.
SUMMARY - Chris Harper may not be as highly touted as several of the other receivers in this draft class and may not have comparable production numbers because of inconsistent QB play at Kansas State, but he clearly has the physical skill set to start at the next level. He consistently wins 50/50 balls because of his ability to get inside positioning and outplay defenders for the ball in the air, and he is able to create separation with physicality on his breaks and subtle push offs before the ball arrives. He has a outstanding hands and a huge catching radius, and is an extremely competitive runner once the ball is in his hands. The biggest question on Harper's game is whether or not he will be able to create consistent separation, as he tends to get a bit stiff when changing directions and lacks the ability to accelerate out of his breaks. While his lack of innate explosiveness will likely prevent him from ever becoming a true #1 receiver, but he should develop into a highly productive #2 receiver that stays on the field in all situations because of his blocking .
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| 12 |
DaRick Rogers WR, Tennessee Tech |
6-3 |
206 |
6.9 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Rogers definitely fits the mold of the big receiver that NFL teams have been searching for the last ten years. Using his strength, body and long arms, Rogers is able to create separation by pushing off and shield defender. A good feel for coverages leads him to consistently be able to find open spots in coverage. Soft, natural hands combine with Rogers' body control, coordination and concentration to enable him to twist and adjust to make tough catches on off-target throws. Possessing good size, jumping ability and hands, Rogers is excellent at going up to win jump ball battles over cornerbacks, which makes him a dangerous red-zone receiver. Fearless heading into traffic, he maintains focus on ball so that he can make catch with defender closing on him. Ability to get ball tucked away fast helps him to easily hold onto the ball when he gets crushed right after the catch. A strong, physical runner with good balance, Rogers consistently is able to run through arm/grab tackles to gain yards after contact. He has experience returning kickoffs.
WEAKNESSES - Obviously, Rogers' being dismissed from Tennessee for off-field issues is the biggest concern surrounding him. He will need to prove to NFL teams that he can keep his off-field issues under control in order to be drafted before the late rounds. More of a smooth and fluid athlete, Rogers is not a "quick twitch" athlete. He lacks good initial quickness off the ball and burst out of his cuts, which will hinder his ability to get open against man coverage in the NFL. While he can make big plays down the field by making tough catches with a defender on his hip and on jump balls, he lacks the elite speed to get separation on deep routes and to run away from the defense after the catch. He lacks the speed to out-run defenders who have the angle on him.
SUMMARY - After a breakout 2010 season (67 catches for 1040 yards with 9 TD's), Rogers was expected to combine with Justin Hunter to form an elite receiver Combo for the Volunteers. Unfortunately, Rogers was suspended from the Tennessee team and ended up transferring down to Tennessee Tech so that he could play immediately in 2011 and he had a solid season (61 catches for 893 yards with 10 TD's). Even though Rogers lacks the quick burst of acceleration and top end speed that everyone prefers, his combination of smooth athleticism, size, strength and receiving skills give him the tools to be a productive starting receiver in the NFL. Overall, if Rogers did not have any off-field issues he would likely be a second round draft pick, but with concerns about his character he will likely be a third or fourth round pick. If he can stay focused on and off the field then I expect Rogers to become a quality starting receiver in the NFL who catches a lot of passes and makes big plays in the red-zone.
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| 13 |
Markus Wheaton WR, Oregon State |
6-1 |
182 |
6.9 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Wheaton has all the physical tools to be a productive starting receiver in the NFL. With an explosive first step off the ball and good acceleration he is able to close the cushion on cornerback fast or can get separation off LOS vs press alignment. Deceptively fast, Wheaton has consistently shown the speed to gain separation on deep routes without looking like he flying. His burst shows up in his ability to burst out of his cuts to gain separation. He shows no fear going across the middle and catching passes in traffic. Catching the ball away from his body, he gets it tucked away quickly and consistently holds onto the ball when he gets hit right after the catch. Consistently able to maintain his focus, Wheaton has made tough catches seem like routine occurences throughout his college career. Not only good catching passes, Wheaton gets after man as a blocker and usually is able to keep man out of the play.
WEAKNESSES - Despite good measured size, Wheaton looks and plays smaller than it on film and actually looks 5'9. Not a big, muscular receiver, he has not shown the strength to run through grab tackles to consistently gain yards after contact. While he has shown the ability to be a sharp and precise route runner, he has a habit of rounding off his cuts, which limits his ability to consistently get separation from defenders. For a receiver who makes tough catches look routine, he drops more easy ones than he should and I feel it is due to him losing his concentration. He takes eyes off ball, which lets the ball get into his body and he drops passes he should easily catch.
SUMMARY - A highly productive PAC 12 receiver, I had doubts about his quickness and speed heading to the Senior Bowl, but after he stood out in every practice I no longer have any concerns about his athleticism. Two things both me - For a player who shows the ability to run such excellent routes and make highlite reel catches, too often he rounds off his cuts and drops easy passes he should catch. Overall, I think Wheaton is going to be a second or third round pick and has the talent to be a very productive starter if he can improve on those two keys issues that I mentioned.
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| 14 |
Marquess Wilson WR, Washington State |
6-4 |
185 |
6.8 J |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Marquess Wilson is a big, athletic wide receiver with long arms and long legs. He is fantastic at high-pointing the ball, and is a jump ball monster. He is the ability to be a great red zone option. He will go up and fight for the ball over the DB, and he has the body control to do it. He will come back to the QB when the play breaks down. Wilson has outstanding hands and the wrist strength to come down with the ball. Wilson has the stride to simply run past defenders once he gets started.
WEAKNESSES - Wilson is very thin at 186 pounds and he needs to add bulk to his frame. He needs to get stronger or teams will press him at the LOS and negate him. Wilson is not a great route-runner as he is sloppy at the top of his route. He chops his feet and gears down into his breaks and it is a huge tell for the defense. Wilson gets very little initial separation because of wasted, sloppy footwork and he is just not a quick athlete. He is more of a strider than fast, and it takes him a few steps to get up to full speed. Wilson is not a sudden athlete. He has left the program as a junior under strange circumstances and he will have to answer questions about his departure. He is not a good blocker for his size.
SUMMARY - Marquess Wilson is a gifted playmaker. He makes difficult catches look easy and he is great at coming down with the jump ball. Wilson is a tall wide receiver with long range speed but he is not fast by any means, and he is going to struggle to separate from the quicker cornerbacks in the NFL. There is very little suddenness to his game, but his stride is long and elusive. He needs to improve on his route running, especially at the top of his route where he can get sloppy. He has outstanding hands and is a reliable receiver in that aspect, in fact he comes down with passes that he simply shouldn't. Wilson isn't going to run through many tacklers as he is very thin. He needs to add some bulk to his frame and that may help him blocking down the field, but it may worsen the initial quickness problem. Wilson is one of those tall, but not fast wide receivers who will struggle to separate in the NFL, but his jumping ability and red zone play make him an intriguing player. He warrants early third-round consideration as a player with great ball skills, soft hands and great play making ability.
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| 15 |
Tavarres King WR, Georgia |
6-1 |
200 |
6.4 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - King has very good timed speed but plays at an even faster level. He is an explosive, smooth athlete that gets to top speed in a flash and stays there. This allows him to consistently outrun DBs on downfield routes, making him a constant deep ball threat. He flashes the body control needed to make off target catches and the toughness to come down with contested balls. He also impresses against zone coverage, as he runs solid routes and does an excellent job of recognizing and exploiting the soft spots underneath. Once he has the ball in his hands, he is an explosive and aggressive run, as he immediately attacks the defense and has the ability to run away from defenders out in space.
WEAKNESSES - Despite being an outstanding athlete, King does not run consistently clean routes and must be tighter on his breaks, as well as do a better job of selling his fakes. He struggles to beat the jam, as he is not aggressive with his hands and is too easily rerouted by physical corners. He also lacks the physicality and toughness to be an effective blocker, as he too often stops his feet and reaches, causing him to fall off blocks early. King is a body catcher that consistently lets balls within his framework get into his pads, and not surprisingly he is inconsistent catching balls outside of his strike zone.
SUMMARY -Tavarres King is an explosive vertical threat that is capable of making an immediate impact at the next level because of top end speed and open field running ability. He is explosive on his release off the LOS and consistently plays at top speed. Unlike other similar prospects known purely for their ability to take the top off of defenses, King is also an effective player underneath against zone coverage, as he is quick to diagnose open areas and sit down to make himself an easy target for his QB. When faced with press coverage, he struggled to compete with defenders and too often quit at the break point. His hands are also a concern, as he too often lets the ball get into his frame and leaves himself susceptible to drops. Although not a complete prospect, his game-breaking speed is sure to entice NFL teams to take him possibly as early as the 2nd or 3rd round.
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| 16 |
Josh Boyce WR, Texas Christian |
6-0 |
203 |
6.0 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Boyce is a quick and fast athlete who has shown that he can get great initial separation against corners. His speed and physicality allow him a free release off the line of scrimmage as defenders don't like to press him. Boyce gets up to speed quickly and is a very sudden, slippery route runner. He is a polished route runner who has the speed and savvy to beat corners with the slant, or deep over the top of a defense. He runs sharp, precise routes in short areas (like the quick slant TD vs. Virginia). Boyce looks very balanced and has good footwork. He does a good job of plucking the ball at its high point and anticipates the ball well, going up to get it in jump ball scenarios. He has strong hands and will rip the ball from the defender. Boyce is a yard-after-catch machine who will make the first tackler miss. He will run through arm tackles and is physically hard to bring down. Boyce is a willing blocker and will help down the field. Boyce is a tough football player and a player that teams must account for at all times.
WEAKNESSES - Boyce is limited because of his size and he won't realistically ever be a true No. 1 receiver. Despite his foot quickness, he is not an elite speedster and he needs a step to get his acceleration going. He is more quick than fast. Boyce doesn't have great awareness on the field as evidenced by him stepping out of bounds during a play against Virginia. While he goes up to get the ball well, he doesn't always come down with it, and he needs to focus on the ball better through the catch. He won't run away from defenders in the NFL and will have to rely upon his quickness because there isn't elite speed. Boyce does not help in the return game.
SUMMARY - Boyce has what it takes to make it in the NFL as slot receiver or as a possession type receiver. Boyce won't get any bigger as he looks maxed out at 203 pounds. Boyce has good, strong hands and is a reliable pass-catcher who will have success in the NFL. Boyce is tough with the ball in his hands as he is willing to turn the ball and run north and south. He does a good job of adjusting to the ball and high pointing it. He has excellent athletic ability and separation quickness and should be a productive slot receiver but he should not be lined up outside. Boyce needs a free release as he will struggle against a physical press from bigger cornerbacks. He does a nice job of breaking am tackles in the open field and is a threat to exploit defenses with the bubble screen. Overall, Boyce should not be a high pick because he is not an elite "X" receiver and he doesn't help in the return game. However, he does have good hands, and very good foot quickness and is big enough to play the slot position well in the NFL. Boyce should warrant third-round consideration as a slot receiver.
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| 17 |
Marcus Davis WR, Virginia Tech |
6-4 |
232 |
5.9 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Davis' excellent size, jumping ability and concentration enable him to consistently go up and make tough catches over cornerbacks on high passes. He has consistently shown the ability to make tough catches on off-target passes, even when he allows the ball to get into his body. Big receivers who can make the tough over-the-shoulder catch are a real weapon in the red-zone, which should put Davis in position to be one because he makes those catches seem routine. He makes it look easy winning jump ball battles. Despite lacking explosiveness off the ball, his foot quickness allows him to accelerate to full speed fast once he gets moving. His size and long strides hide his better than expected playing speed as he can get deep separation from cornerbacks once he gets to full speed. He is quick getting started up the field after the catch and can change directions quickly to make tacklers miss. With his size and strength his willingness to run aggressively after the catch helps him to consistently gain yards after contact. He shows no fear catching passes as he heads into traffic, stays focused on ball, takes hard hit and holds onto ball. He is a strong and competitive blocker who gets after defender and usually is able to eliminate man from the play.
WEAKNESSES - Davis' lack of experience playing WR still shows up in his lack of initial quickness off the ball and rounded cuts in routes. He will need to improve his route running in order to consistently get separation from NFL M/M coverage. On passes within the frame of his body he lets the ball into his body and becomes a "body catcher." This has not led to more drops in college, so it may never be an issue, but it must be noted. Right now Davis is a better athlete than receiver and that will need to improve for him to become the receiver he has the talent to be.
SUMMARY - Davis came to Virginia Tech as a quarterback, but he made the smart decision to switch to receiver early on in order to get on the field sooner. This decision has paid off as he likely would still be a backup to Logan Thomas now as opposed to a potential mid-round draft pick. He has the excellent size to go with quick feet, deceptive playing speed and the ball skills to make tough catches. Combining Davis' physical skills with his smarts (As a former quarterback he understands everyone on the offense's jobs and knows how to play receiver as a quarterback would want a receiver to), toughness, work ethic and intangibles give him all the tools to be a good starting receiver in the NFL. Overall, Davis' is a good NFL prospect and if he improves his route running and catches the ball as well in the NFL as he did at Virginia Tech he will be a productive NFL receiver.
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| 18 |
Terrance Williams WR, Baylor |
6-2 |
205 |
5.9 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Williams has very good measurables for the position and the frame needed to absorb punishment and maintain health long term. He is a true homerun threat, as he can simply run by defenders in space. He does a solid job of running through contact on his routes, allowing him to consistently draw penalties or break free for potentially huge plays down-field.
WEAKNESSES - While Williams has outstanding speed, once the ball is in his hands he is not an elusive or powerful runner and struggles to break tackles and pick up yards after contact. He does not use his hands well against the jam and is not aggressive enough to consistently create separation. He is also not a physical blocker, preferring to catch his man instead of initiate with strong initial punches, causing him to struggle sustaining blocks in space. He is a body catcher that lacks natural hands and drops too many balls within his catch radius. On jump balls he does not consistently attack the ball in the air and lets the ball get into his body too often.
SUMMARY - Terrance Williams was a disappointing player to evaluate because while he was a highly productive player at Baylor because of his game-breaking speed, he lacks the well-rounded skill set to be a similar threat at the NFL level. Although he has very good height and bulk for the position, he does not play up to his strength level because of his lack of aggressiveness against physical defenders and struggles to separate vs. man press. He is too easily rerouted by aggressive corners and allows them to pin him to the boundary. He tends to let the ball get into his body and struggles to catch balls outside of his frame. If he learns to use his hands more aggressively to beat the jam, he could develop into a starter. However, at this stage, Williams does not offer much more than vertical speed, and with his suspect hands teams should be weary of over-drafting him based on potential alone.
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| 19 |
Uzoma Nwachukwu WR, Texas A&M |
6-0 |
180 |
5.8 I |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Nwachukwu has good height and a solid frame that should allow him to pack on additional weight without sacrificing speed or athleticism. He displays the foot quicks needed to beat the jam and is able to create separation naturally with his precise route running. He flashes the ability to pluck the ball away from his body and is not afraid to go up for the ball in traffic. He does a nice job of working with his QB on extended plays and knows when to come back or take off down-field. His competitiveness and effectiveness as a blocker will also translate well on special teams, as he should be able to contribute on all four units.
WEAKNESSES - Nwachukwu is not an explosive athlete and lacks the speed to consistently stretch the field. Consequently, when he is not aggressive with his hands against press coverage he struggles to create separation. In 2011 he struggled with drops and while he seems to have improved based on his senior film he did drop two catchable balls that required him to layout in games I evaluated this year.
SUMMARY - Considering his relatively average production numbers despite starting for one of the most explosive college offenses in the country, I had low expectations when I first sat down to evaluate Uzoma Nwachukwu's film. However, I was pleasantly surprised as he is a polished route runner and competitive blocker capable of contributing not just on offense but special teams as well. He does an excellent job of disguising and selling his routes, allowing him to consistently create separation off tight breaks despite lacking true explosiveness or top end speed. He blocks with consistent base and leverage out in space and quick to initiate and lock on with punches inside, allowing him to sustain blocks downfield. He appears to have improved his hands as a senior and does a good job of catching the ball away from his body before it gets into his frame. He has the size and strength to be a solid possession receiver at the next level but he will need to be more consistent using his hands to beat the press. Nwachukwu is clearly worth taking early on day three, as he will immediately be able to contribute on special teams. Important Note - Last name is pronounced WA-CHA-KU.
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| 20 |
Ryan Swope WR, Texas A&M |
6-0 |
206 |
5.6 J |
Full Scouting Report |
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Scouting Report:
STRENGTHS - Swope runs his routes at full speed and can pluck the ball away from his body without breaking stride. He is capable of running precise routes and uses his short area quickness and ability to change speed to consistently gain separation in and out of his breaks when given a free release. He runs through contact after the catch and is able to consistently pick up additional yardage.
WEAKNESSES - Swope has a thin frame and must add another 10-15 lbs. of muscle in order to better withstand the punishment he will receive at the next level. Because of his lack of bulk and natural strength he is consistently knocked off line by aggressive defenders in press coverage and must learn to his hands to better protect his frame. He is a catch blocker that lacks the strength to sustain blocks and must become more aggressive at the POA. While he possesses good short area quickness he is not an explosive athlete and lacks the speed needed to run away from defenders downfield. He had multiple fumbles in games I viewed and must do a better job of securing the ball against his body after the catch.
SUMMARY - Ryan Swope was a productive, dependable receiver out of the slot for Texas A&M and possesses a skill set that will translate nicely to the NFL. He has the soft hands needed to consistently snare off target balls and is fearless going into traffic despite his slight frame. While he lacks the explosiveness to ever be a home run threat he displays the foot quickness and COD ability needed to run precise routes and create separation naturally on his breaks. In order to elevate his game for the next level he must become a more physical player not just as a blocker but while running his routes as well, as he tends to get knocked around too easily by defensive backs in press coverage and aggressive linebackers playing zone. He must also learn to hold the ball tighter against his body, as he tends to run with the ball exposed and leave himself susceptible to getting stripped. Swope has a chance to become a productive #3 or #4 WR and special teams player, and don't be surprised if a team in desperate need of reliable skill position upgrades like Miami (his 2011 head coach and QB are both Dolphins) take him early on day three. .
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