No only has [autotag]John Downs[/autotag] proven to be one of the top wide receivers in the ACC, he has also proven to be one of the top targets in all of college football following a breakout sophomore season in 2021.
Downs returns to UNC after a program record-setting season in Chapel Hill where he caught 101 passes for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns.
Downs will be UNC’s top weapon on offense in 2022 and could find himself creeping up NFL draft boards as a potential first-round draft pick in 2023.
But, for now, he’s gearing up for his junior year for the Tar Heels. That means, receiving numerous preseason honors such as the the Biletnikoff Award (top wide receiver) and Maxwell Award (College player of the year) this offseason. He was also named to the All-ACC Preseason team.
Now, he received a 90 overall rating from Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney.
“No one in the ACC had more catches than Downs last season. Not formerPitt(nowUSC) receiverJordan Addison, not anyone. The former high four-star receiver finished with 101 receptions for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but Downs also had quarterback Sam Howell throwing the ball to him. Howell is now in the NFL, so even though Downs’ numbers could end up higher the talent at QB in Chapel Hill is lower this season than when Howell was in charge.”
His 90-rating was the seventh best in the ACC. He was, however, rated as the second best wide receiver in the conference behind A.T. Perry (Wake Forest – 96) and tied with Dontayvion Wicks (Virginia – 90).
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