2020 NFL draft: WR Laviska Shenault NFL draft profile

Steelers Wire draft profile featuring Laviska Shenault (WR, Colorado)

During Laviska Shenault, Jr.’s three seasons with the Colorado Buffalos, he accumulated 1,943 yards on 149 receptions and 10 touchdowns. He also ran for 280 yards and added another seven touchdowns on the ground. On special teams, he returned a punt 55 yards for a score as a freshman and a kick 54 yards for a score.

Those numbers lead many to believe that Shenault is the most versatile receiver in the 2020 draft. Early mock drafts projected Shenault to go in the first round. Due to durability issues and questionable production, however, his stock may fall. It’s inevitable that players get injured – it can happen to any player at any time. Were the receiver’s modest collegiate stats could be due to the lack of a playmaker at QB? Should Shenault land with a team with a pass-heavy offense, we’ll get our answer.

Shenault possesses key attributes of a successful receiver – speed, explosiveness, and physicality. The areas that need to be developed – route-running, ball-tracking, and blocking – can be honed through experience and proper coaching at the pro level.

Laviska Shenault | WR | Colorado

Height | 6-2

Weight | 220

Class | Junior

College Bio

College Stats

It’s no secret that the Steelers love to draft receivers. Since taking over as general manager in 2000, Kevin Colbert has selected 22 receivers – only 2003, 2004 and 2011 were receiver-less drafts.

The Steelers have depth at the position; however, with JuJu Smith-Schuster set to become a free agent in 2021 and inconsistent film from Dionte Johnson and James Washington, Pittsburgh may want to snag the top-rated Shenault with its first pick (49th).

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Colorado ‘may reach’ out to Oklahoma’s Alex Grinch for head coach vacancy

Another Pac-12 head coach opening, another job Oklahoma’s Alex Grinch has been linked to. This time for Colorado’s head coaching vacancy.

Another Pac-12 head coaching position open, another spot where Alex Grinch’s name has been linked to.

Earlier in the offseason, Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator was rumored to be a candidate for the Washington State head coaching vacancy. On Friday afternoon, the Athletic’s Bruce Feldman threw out a little nugget on Colorado’s head coaching vacancy, which included Grinch’s name.

This is not nearly as far as the talks reportedly went with Grinch and Washington State, as Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator was asked to be interviewed by the place he was the defensive coordinator at for three years (2015-17).

Colorado’s head coaching position surprisingly opened over a week ago when Mel Tucker left Boulder, Colorado, for Michigan State. Kansas City Chiefs’ offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy reportedly turned down the job on Thursday night.

In one year at Oklahoma, Grinch helped increase the Sooners’ defense in every statistical category besides creating turnovers and stopping the run on early downs. Grinch is set to lose three key pieces off his 2019 defense in Neville Gallimore, Kenneth Murray and Parnell Motley, but will return virtually the rest of his first-year defense.

As of Friday, Oklahoma’s defensive coordinator has not interviewed with Colorado.

The Sooners are set to start spring practice in two weeks.

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