Ourlads Archives

Wide Receivers - 2023 Ourlads' Draft Preview

Dave Syversten
12/03/2022 8:21PM ET

 

1. Johnston, Quentin

TCU  6040  212

Three year starter from Temple, TX.  Earned first team All Big 12 honors in 2021.  Elite size with the proper mix of length and muscle mass to pose as a credible traffic-threat.  Will win more than his fair share of 50/50 balls, as he has steadily improved his ball skills on all fronts.  Reaches the ball at the apex of his wide and high radius.  Can position himself like a power forward extending for a rebound.  Long-strider with the ability to get over the top of the defense and track the ball without losing spatial awareness or body control.  Plays strong and physical.  Will demand effort from the defenders when it comes to getting him on the ground.  Will need to shore up his route running habits throughout the short to intermediate portions of the tree.

 

2. Addison, Jordan*

USC  6000  175

Three year starter from Frederick, MD.  Spent two years at Pittsburgh where he led the team in catches and yards, capping off 2021 by setting a program record with 100 receptions on his way to earning first team All American honors and winning the Biletnikoff Award.  Transferred to USC for the 2022 season to play under Lincoln Riley. Elite body control as he tracks the deep pass and will make the tough catch over the shoulder.  Sees the ball into his hands on vertical routes and shows the extra gear if he has catching up to do.  Sharp, crisp route runner with ability to stop on a time and alter his weight.  Has experience lining up inside and out, but has primarily played from the slot.  Needs to strengthen his hands when coming back to the ball and does not have the natural power to free himself from the grasp of tacklers.

 

3. Smith-Njigba, Jaxon*

Ohio State  6000  198

Two year starter from Rockwall, TX  2021 third team All American that led the team in catches and yards coming from a position group that produced two first round picks in Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.  A crisp, sharp route runner that does not give up his intentions until the final moment.  Has elite body control as he changes direction at the top of his route.  A strong and sturdy base with easy ankle flexion.  Shows the kind of body control that will maximize limited space with a high success rate in traffic.  Fast, sudden burst after the catch.  Sturdy frame will break through arm tackles and gain extra yards after the catch.  Primarily lines up in the slot and does not have the kind of long speed to separate vertically.  

 

4. Boutte, Kayshon*

LSU  6000  205

Three year starter from New Iberia, LA.  Led the Tigers in receiving for the second straight season in 2021 despite missing seven games due to an ankle injury.  Recovery has been slower than expected which has slowed him down early in 2022 in addition to an off field situation (girlfriend gave birth to their child in September).  Elite burst and body control attached to a plus-sized frame for the position.  Will create missed tackles after the catch with his ability to lower his pads toward the ground and absorb contact without skipping a beat.  Can separate on all levels of the route tree, showing advanced tactics as a route runner.  Can feel the defender and make his breaks at the right moment.  Inconsistent ball skills in contested situations tend to show up too often and has maturity question marks hanging around during the start of the 2022 season.

 

5. Rice, Rashee

SMU 6003 203

Three year starter from North Richland Hills, TX.  Blessed with natural size and speed traits that do not come together on one frame often.  Big, strong hands that swallow the ball on contact with extra-long arms that work off his elite combination of speed and leaping ability.  Plays with explosive traits but maintains loose nimbleness below the waist.  Elite ball skills.  Goes up and gets it, attacking the pass with his hands and will play through contact.  Constant upper hand when it comes to the 50/50 situations.  Can get himself open on all areas of the route tree and won’t go down without a fight.  Route quality needs to catch up to his tool set to further his impact in a pro offense and will need to refine his approach at getting off the line.

 

6. Tillman, Cedric

Tennessee  6031  214

 

7.  Downs, Josh*

North Carolina  5010  175

 

8.  Hyatt, Jalin

Tennessee 6002  175

 

9. Washington, Parker*

Penn State  5100  214

 

10.  Mims, Marvin*

Oklahoma  5110  184

 

11. Higgins, Elijah

Stanford  6030  244

 

12. Reed, Jayden

Michigan State  5107  187

 

13. Flowers, Zay

Boston College 5091  170

 

14. Smith, Ainias

Texas A&M  5100  194

 

15. Perry, AT

Wake Forest  6034  203

 

16. Robinson, Tayvion

Kentucky  5103 184

 

17. Mingo, Jonathan

Mississippi  6014  220

 

18. Ford-Wheaton, Bryce

West Virginia  6032  223

 

19.  Bell, Ronnie

Michigan  5110  190

 

20. Demus, Dontay

Maryland  6033  213

 

21. Wicks, Dontayvion

Virginia 6016 202

 

22. Hutchinson, Xavier

Iowa State  6020  208

 

23. Burton, Jermaine*

Alabama  6000  200

 

24. Johnson, Braydon

Oklahoma State 6000 204

 

25.  Jarrett, Rakim

Maryland  5110  194

 

26. Tucker, Tre

Cincinnati  5083  175

 

27. Dell, Nathaniel

Houston  5100  159

 

28. DuBose, Grant

Charlotte  6022  198

 

29. Johnson, Cornelius

Michigan 6022 211

 

30. Knowles, Malik

Kansas State  6023  195

 

31. Ngata, Joseph

Clemson  6030  215

 

32. Autman-Bell, Chris

Minnesota  6000  207

 

33. Cowing, Jacob

 Arizona  5086  166

 

34. Cruickshank, Aaron

Rutgers  5090  165

 

35. Franklin, Zakhari

UTSA  6006  189

 

36. Harrell, Tyler

Alabama  6004  192

 

37. Moreno-Cropper, Jalen

Fresno State  5114  184

 

37. Jenkins, Jaray

LSU  6012  202

 

39. Jackson, Kearis

Georgia  5113  203

 

40. Harris, Keilahn

Oklahoma Baptist 5097 181

 

41. Jones, Charlie

Purdue  5117  186

 

42. Vann, Josh

South Carolina  5101  197

 

43. Wilson, Michael

Stanford  6010  209

 

44. Janke, Jaxon

South Dakota State  6021  209

* Denotes Underclassman