2018 Wide Receiver Prospects Part II

By John Laub
John Laub

 

 

 

       2018 Wide Receiver Prospects

                       Rating the Receivers Part II

 

 

 

 


7. Equanimeous St. Brown, Notre Dame
After a disappointing season, third-year junior declared for Draft. Son of two-time Mr. Universe and three-time Mr. World body builder. Earned Notre Dame Offensive Player of the Year in 2016, leading Irish in receptions (58) receiving yards (961) and touchdowns (9). Production slipped last year as passing game fell apart in South Bend. At 6-foot-5 and 214 pounds, a smooth athlete with lanky and lean frame, long arms, good body control and vast catch radius. Swift feet and good acceleration allows for rapid separation. A long strider with huge limbs and runs faster than appears on film. Easily glides downfield. Builds up to top speed quickly and attacks safeties. Kicks into over drive on deep routes. Fluid mover who dominates opponents on crossing patterns. Employed all over the formation. Powers through tacklers and runs away from defenders in the open field. Some observers question attitude and urgency and have attached “underachiever” label. Does not track ball well and double clutching passes intermittently. Lacks alpha dog personality. Dropped easily catchable throws sporadically. A few teams will be tantalized by size and speed combination and draft St. Brown based on perceived upside potential.

 


Scholar’s Supremacy Score
Receptions: 92
Yards per Reception: 16.1
Breakaway Ability
40-yard Dash: 4.48
3-Cone Drill: n/a
20-yard Shuttle: n/a
Draft Potential: Third round

 

8. Michael Gallup, Colorado State

Capped off a two-year tour at Colorado State as a Consensus All-American and Biletnikoff Award finalist last year. Two-time All-Mountain West First Team. Posted a school record 100 catches for 1,413 yards and seven touchdowns. Over past two campaigns, recorded 12 100-yard, and three 200-yard games. Totaled an impressive 37% of team’s passing yards in 2017. Adopted as a 10-month old and raised in a multi-racial family. Recruited by SEC teams in high school. Poor SAT tests scores prevented him from going to a FBS program immediately. Played two seasons at Butler Community College in Kansas. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, natural athlete with a strong frame. A quick twitch competitor with good balance and quickness. Executes double moves to gain separation. Long arms and uses size to advantage: Boxes out defenders and gains positioning. Great body control and adjusts to the football in flight. Wins majority of 50-50 balls in the air. Solid hands and high points the football. Plucks ball away from frame. Runs good vertical routes and ultra productive on screen passes. Difficult to bring down after the catch. Ventures into the teeth of the defense and enjoys contact. A raw competitor who did not lineup against top-level competition weekly. Still studying how to play receiver. Run game blocking lacks energy and takes plays off when not the primary target. Could develop into a rock-solid professional as a starter.
Key Career Stats
Receptions: 182
Yards per Reception: 15.2
Breakaway Ability
40-yard Dash: 4.51
3-Cone Drill: 6.95
20-yard Shuttle: 4.39
Draft Potential: Third round

 

9. Deon Cain, Clemson
Another high-end game breaker from the Clemson football factory: DeAndre Hopkins (‘13), Sammy Watkins (‘14), Martavis Bryant (’14) and Mike Williams (‘17).  USA Today High School All-American as a dual-threat quarterback. Played immediately as a freshman and notched 34 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns. In 2015, missed both CFP contests after a suspension for failing a drug test. Did not participate in spring practices either. As a sophomore, recorded best season on the National Champions: snatched 38 passes for 724 yards, averaged 19.1 ypc. and scored nine touchdowns. Finished career with 2,040 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. At 6-foot-1 and 202 pounds, a fluid and graceful athlete. Good combination of size and speed. Explosive first step and accelerates to full speed promptly. Great leaping ability and body control. Wins matchups on deep balls. Physical with ball in flight. Stretches the secondary vertically and reliably tracks the football. Adjusts well to poorly thrown passes. Smooth route runner with speed to attack all three levels of the defense. Great feet on the boundaries. Limited route tree on resume: Often ran either an 8- or 9- pattern. Must be willing to improve as a technician. Plethorea of skills to intrigue NFL teams.
Key Career Stats
Receptions: 130
Yards per Reception: 15.7
Breakaway Ability
40-yard Dash: 4.43
3-Cone Drill: 6.71
20-yard Shuttle: 4.37
Draft Potential: Third round

 


10. Tre’Quan Smith, UCF
A dual-sport athlete in high school: basketball and track. As a freshman, named AAC Rookie of the Year. In 2016-17, earned American All-Academic Team. In 2017, Second Team All-AAC after first 1,000-yard campaign for the undefeated Knights: 59 catches for 1,171 yards and 13 touchdowns. At UCF, finished career in top ten in receptions, yards (2,748), yards per catch, receiving touchdowns (22) and 100-yard receiving games (11). Produced three consecutive seasons over 50 receptions. Best performance of 2017 crusade against Memphis (6-161-2) in AAC Championship Game. Among pass catchers at Combine, tied for second in broad jump (10’10”) and seventh in vertical jump (37.5”). At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, a smooth, fluid and physical athlete. Broad shoulders, long arms (33 3/8”) and large catch radius. A long strider with a lean frame and very good deep speed. Uses body to wall off defenders. Ferocious competitor who breaks tackles. First-rate after the catch ability. Employs moves and changes pace to uncover on routes. Separates at the top of stem, tracks throws well and attacks ball at highest point. Strong hands and fights for football in congested areas. Good red zone threat. Versatile playmaker, who lined up on the outside, in the slot and backfield. Occasionally, drops balls and lacks concentration on passes. Rounds off breaks and must sharpen cuts. Needs to refine route running. At times, lethargic off the snap. In six games versus Power 5 opponents, recorded 24 catches for 355 yards, scored four touchdowns and averaged 14.8 ypc. A very nice professional career ahead for the UCF product.
Key Career Stats
Receptions: 163
Yards per Reception: 16.3
Breakaway Ability
40-yard Dash: 4.49
3-Cone Drill: 6.97
20-yard Shuttle: 4.50
Draft Potential: Third round

 

11. Dante Pettis, Washington
Son of former MLB center fielder Gary Pettis, who won five Gold Gloves and stole 354 bases. As a junior, nabbed 15 touchdowns and corralled 24 receptions for touchdowns during his career. Last year, led the Huskies in receptions with 63 for 751 yards. Well-tuned athlete who produced explosive plays on special teams: Established the NCAA record for punt returns for touchdowns with nine. At 6-foot-0 and 186 pounds, savvy route runner who gains separation with speed, quickness, fakes, jukes and elusiveness. Impressive body control with flexible hips and good movement. Makes opponents look silly. In an instant, stops and starts and effortlessly changes direction. Evades opponents in restricted space. Easily stretches the field vertically. On punt returns, sudden first step and blasts off into the open field with great vision. Sporadically, double clutches while making catches and allows ball into body. Must be more physical and use frame effectively. Did not play in the slot frequently. Difficulties getting off press coverage and lack of core strength on slight build. A dynamic big-play threat, who can assist a team immediately as a returner.
Key Career Stats
Receptions: 163
Yards per Reception: 13.8
Breakaway Ability
40-yard Dash: n/a
3-Cone Drill: n/a
20-yard Shuttle: n/a
Draft Potential: Third round

 

12. D.J. Chark, LSU
In a run-heavy scheme, another top-shelf LSU receiver prospect. Despite abysmal quarterback play last year, earned All-SEC Second Team with 40 catches for 874 yards and three touchdowns and exceeded 100-yards receiving in four games. Paced Conference with two punt return touchdowns and finished second in return average (10.6). During his career, averaged 20.5 yards per catch and scored four rushing touchdowns on 25 carries. In school history, only player to score both a rushing and receiving touchdown beyond 75 yards. Topped off college tenure as Co-MVP of the Senior Bowl with five catches for 160 yards and a touchdown. At 6-foot-3 and 199 pounds, smooth athlete with a size-speed combination that will entice personnel departments. Nimble body control, long limbs, iron mitts and large catch radius. Physical and competitive. Gets open with active hands and bursts out of cuts. Awareness of sideline and adjusts well to the football. Explosive playmaker who uses double moves to create separation on deep routes. Secondary must account for go-route. Inconsistant hands: Occasionally, makes eye-scratching drops. Not an aggressive blocker. Most of production on vertical routes. Is the speedster a one-trick pony? Can take the top off defenses and a club will covet the potential and talent.
Key Career Stats
Receptions: 66
Yards per Reception: 20.5
Breakaway Ability
40-yard Dash: 4.34
3-Cone Drill: n/a
20-yard Shuttle: n/a
Draft Potential: Third round