Tag: wide receivers

WATCH: Bryce Young trains with Alabama receivers before official practices begin

Alabama’s five-star true freshman quarterback Bryce Young is seen training with Alabama WRs days before official training is set to begin.

It was recently reported that SEC football players would be allowed back on campus to train with staff beginning June, 8.

However, that may be too long to wait for some of the Crimson Tide’s 2020 squad.

A few videos were posted online which showed numerous Alabama players, including quarterbacks throwing, receivers running routes and catching passes and defensive backs getting some one-on-one work in on the field where the Million Dollar Band practices on University Blvd. on campus.

The videos are from a trainer that is not affiliated with Alabama, Ro Simon Jr..

This video shows receivers DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle, Slade Bolden, John Metchie, Javon Baker, Xavier Williams and defensive back Marcus Banks.

Another video shows Alabama’s five-star true freshman quarterback Bryce young passing to Jaylen Waddle.

Waddle had to jump to catch the pass, but got both feet down in the end zone which would make this an NFL touchdown.

Mac Jones can be seen in the background wearing his shoulder pads with shorts and no jersey.

These are not official practices, but it should feel good for Alabama fans knowing their players want to be out there perfecting their craft.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama football as the season gets closer.

Texas Longhorns team of the century: Wide receivers

Longhorns Wire is compiling a starting roster for team of the century, next up is the wide receivers.

Outside of former Texas legends Roy Williams and Jordan Shipley, this was a tough position group to fill. Continue reading “Texas Longhorns team of the century: Wide receivers”

2021 Recruiting: Nation’s Top Wide Receiver Makes College Choice

Mario Williams, Jr. is regarded as the best prospect in Florida in 2021 and the nation’s best wide receiver. What school did he commit to?

Mario Williams, Jr., ESPN’s top rated receiver in the 2021 recruiting class and their 16th ranked player overall has made his college decision and will be headed to help one of the nation’s great annual offenses.

The 5-10 Williams announced Friday that he’ll play his college football at Oklahoma, the school he chose over Georgia, Florida, LSU and Alabama.  The top-ranked 2021 prospect from Florida may only be 5-10 and 165 pounds but is expected to fit perfectly in Oklahoma’s wide open, pass happy offense.

Williams joins Cody Jackson, a four-star receiver and ESPN’s 121st ranked prospect in the 2021 recruiting class.  The Sooners now have five commitments ranked in the ESPN300.

Currently Notre Dame stands with a class regarded by most as a top ten group in all of college football.  They have just one wide receiver commitment however, Lorenzo Styles, Jr. who is ranked as the 243rd overall player by ESPN.

Notre Dame Offers Elite 2022 Wide Receiver

Notre Dame made a scholarship offer for Caleb Burton, a wide receiver that will be among the most recruited players in the entire 2021 class

Caleb Burton of Del Valle, Texas is going to be one of the most desired players in the 2022 recruiting class.  The four star wide receiver has already received offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and plenty of others.

Burton is ranked as the 37th overall prospect by 247Sports and the sixth best receiver in the 2022 class.  A monster target he is not as Burton checks in at 6-0, 165 pounds.

Congratulations to Burton for the offer but I’m guessing his Fighting Irish knowledge doesn’t run too deep if he’s using the hashtag #FightOn upon announcing the offer from Notre Dame.

Burton was a First-team all-district Texas 24-6A as a sophomore and will be among the biggest recruits in the 2022 class for whichever school he is to eventually choose.

San Francisco 49ers looking to trade Marquise Goodwin

Marquise Goodwin is on the trade block in San Fransico. After three seasons with the 49ers, Goodwin’s production has gone down every year.

Coming off a Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the San Fransisco 49ers are looking to make another run towards a championship. To do so, they are seeking to make a couple trades to free up cap space.

One of those trades could involve former Longhorn football and track star Marquise Goodwin. The seven-year veteran has been with the 49ers for three seasons after starting his career in Buffalo. Scheduled to make $3.95 million in 2020 and $5.3 million in 2021, San Fransisco could find cheaper options at the wide receiver position.

Since going to the Bay in 2017, Goodwin’s production has slowly gone down. His 56 receptions in 2017 were second on the team but were shrunk down to just 23 in 2018, and 12 this past season. The speedster has also struggled to stay healthy, missing 12 games over the past two seasons.

Already losing Emmanuel Sanders to the New Orleans Saints via free agency, wide receiver quickly is becoming a position of need for the San Fransico 49ers. With such a heavy draft at the position, John Lynch could be looking to spend his 13th overall pick on a wideout.

Many teams need a wide receiver going into the NFL Draft such as the Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Jets. All could be candidates to acquire Goodwin if willing to give up a draft pick or two.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

New York Jets connected to Henry Ruggs at pick No. 11

Ralph Vachianno of SNY reported that the New York Jets have been eyeing Ruggs very closely and love his speed.

The 2020 NFL Draft is right around the corner with only one week left until we get to see commissioner Roger Goodell announce the first-round picks from his basement.

There are plenty of Alabama products being thrown around as potential first round selections – two of those being Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy.

The trio of Ruggs, Jeudy and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb are the favorites to be the first three wide receivers selected in the draft. The only question is: who will be the first to go?

Ralph Vachianno of SNY reported that the New York Jets have been eyeing Ruggs very closely and love his speed.

If Ruggs is drafted by the Jets at No. 11 overall, he would likely be the first receiver off the board.

The wait is almost over, but until then, Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Alabama alums journey’s to the 2020 NFL Draft!

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Ranking wide receivers drafted by 49ers in 1st-round

The 49ers have selected eight wide receivers in the first round of the NFL draft. We ranked them all.

The 49ers have a glaring need at the top of their wide receiver depth chart and question marks at that spot throughout the roster. With two first-round picks to work with in the 2020 draft and a deep wide receiver class to pick from, it appears San Francisco is primed to use one of those early picks on a pass catcher.

History indicates that may not be the best move for the club. They’ve selected eight wide receivers in the first round since 1962 with only limited success.

None of their first-round receivers have made the Pro Bowl since Jerry Rice, who was selected 35 years ago, and only one of them had a 1,000-yard season.

Drafts of yesteryear have no bearing on this iteration of the 49ers though, and they’re constructed in such a way that a receiver will have a chance to thrive on a Super Bowl-ready team.

Let’s look back at the eight other receivers the 49ers have drafted in the first round and rank them from worst to best.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9

2020 NFL Draft: 7 WRs for Bills to consider in second round

Here are seven WRs the Bills can consider in the second round of the 2020 Draft.

The Buffalo Bills first scheduled draft selection won’t occur until Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, as the team picks No. 54 overall.

Luckily, the Bills do not have a glaring need on their roster, making this year’s draft quite intriguing. Buffalo’s front office, led by general manager Brandon Beane, can go in a multitude of directions with the pick, leaving quite a bit of interest and uncertainty with whom the Bills could select.

This installment of our position-by-position series looks at the wide receiver position and which players could still be on the board when the Bills make their first selection at the upcoming draft:

Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Positional priority

Buffalo is in an interesting spot at the wide receiver position, as the team traded for Stefon Diggs at the start of free agency. Diggs gives the Bills their best option as a No. 1 receiver. The Bills also has solid options returning from last year, as the team’s top two receivers, Cole Beasley and John Brown, are back for their second season in Western New York. Buffalo also re-signed Isaiah McKenzie, a versatile receiver who can also run the ball. Andre Roberts mans the return game, while Duke Williams, Robert Foster, and Ray-Ray McCloud III all sit deep on the depth chart. 

Beasley and Brown were both productive in their first seasons in Buffalo.  Brown is under contract for two more years, while Beasley will be around for three more years. Depending on one’s outlook, the Bills could take a high-ceiling player who could grow into a more productive role over the next few seasons, the heir apparent to Brown. There is talent available throughout the draft at the receiver position, as many analysts agree that this position group has some strong depth in it. 

Here are seven wideout who could be enticing for the Bills at the No. 54 selection:

Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Laviska Shenault | Colorado

Shenault has massive playmaking skills. He broke out in 2018, catching 86 passes for 1,110 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions. He added five touchdowns on the ground. Shenault took a step back production-wise last year, as teams placed a greater emphasis on him. He caught 56 passes for 764 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions. He is a versatile player, as he played multiple receive positions throughout the year for the Buffaloes. He had surgery in early March to correct a core muscle injury, which might be the reason for some of his struggles last year, along with why he may fall in the draft.

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4

Baylor WR Denzel Mims on Cowboys radar for 2020 NFL Draft

The east Texas star turned heads at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine; now he’s met with the Cowboys via FaceTime ahead of the NFL Draft.

With college pro days and in-person workouts scrapped, prospects and teams are depending on technology to get better acquainted with one another leading up the NFL Draft later this month. Virtual visits and internet interviews are the new normal this selection season, and the Cowboys have reportedly done their due diligence on a hometown product via FaceTime.

Wide receiver Denzel Mims was proclaimed one of the “winners” at the NFL Scouting Combine, showing off a ridiculous catch radius and tearing up the 3-cone drill. The Baylor burner recorded a 4.38 40-yard dash, tying him for the fifth-fastest time in Indianapolis this year. Mims has been a big climber on most draft boards, and it seems more and more teams are catching on.

The Cowboys locked up Amari Cooper with a new contract, and rising star Michael Gallup will be in just his third year, but the team is nevertheless shopping for depth at the position in 2020. Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb may be the first receivers selected in the draft, but the 22-year-old out of Daingerfield in east Texas could prove to be a sleeper-caliber steal if he lasts beyond the first round.

Mims played his final game for Baylor in the 2020 Sugar Bowl, and left a lasting impression. He led the Baylor offense in receiving yards against Georgia, finishing with five receptions for 75 yards and scoring the team’s lone receiving touchdown in the Bears’ win.

Then came the Senior Bowl, and Mims wowed again. He rocketed over 30 spots up the player rankings from Pro Football Focus after that game alone.

[protected-iframe id=”90ce840322a54de3e0cf2979bcec1824-105974723-8034320″ info=”https://www.mockdraftable.com/embed/denzel-mims?position=WR&page=GRAPH” width=”480″ height=”651″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no”]





[protected-iframe id=”51a26fcde0e1126f0ecbf6691f71fec2-105974723-50443307″ info=”https://widgets.sports-reference.com/wg.fcgi?css=1&site=cfb&url=%2Fcfb%2Fplayers%2Fdenzel-mims-1.html&div=div_receiving” ]


Scouting report from Lance Zierlein, NFL.com:


“Mims is a long-striding outside target with excellent height, weight and speed and an insane catch-radius. He’s a touchdown threat anytime he’s near the red zone, with the focus and body control to finesse and finish catches above the rim. He struggles to release and separate from physical press corners, and he doesn’t consistently compete and outwork opponents for positioning on contested catches. If the route work and intensity catch up with his natural athletic ability, he could become a dangerous “Z” receiver in a vertical offense, but the floor might be lower than some teams are comfortable with.”


Scouting report from Kyle Crabbs, The Draft Network:


“Denzel Mims projects as an X-receiver at the NFL level. With his notable catch radius, physical play and high end body control, Mims projects as a potential starter at the pro level. He brings developing routes and effective play side blocking to the field — which will help him find reps early on in his pro career as he looks to add further refinement to his game. Mims enjoyed a career season in 2019 and appears to have the arrow facing up as he transitions into the pro game.”


Using the 17th pick on Mims may be a bit of a reach, as there will certainly be better players available. But if Dallas is able to use their first-round pick on a defensive standout, don’t be surprised if a big-bodied pass-catching talent like Mims gets a phone call from the Dallas area code their next time up.


[vertical-gallery id=642436][lawrence-newsletter]

	


	





	

		
		
Chiefs to return all receivers from Super Bowl-winning season
	


				

				
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes will continue to have a full complement weapons at his disposal in 2020.

			

		
	
	

	
	

		
A position group that was thought to be assuredly changing in 2020, will remain the same for the Kansas City Chiefs.


They’re set to return their entire receiving corp from their Super Bowl LIV championship roster. That was made official today when news of a restructured contract for WR Sammy Watkins was revealed. The Chiefs also brought back WR Demarcus Robinson on a one-year deal earlier in the free agency period. As we approach the 2020 NFL draft, the Chiefs have kept their group together in hopes of repeating a Super Bowl title in 2020.


Here’s a look at the 2020 receiving group and their regular-season stats from 2019:


    

  • Tyreek Hill – 58 catches for 860 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019.
    • 

  • Sammy Watkins – 50 catches for 673 yards and three touchdowns in 2019.
    • 

  • Demarcus Robinson – 32 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns in 2019.
    • 

  • Mecole Hardman – 26 catches for 538 yards and six touchdowns in 2019.
    • 

  • Byron Pringle – 12 catches 170 yards and one touchdown in 2019.
    • 

  • Gehrig Dieter – 2 tackles on special teams in 2019.
    • 

  • Jody Fortson – Practice squad in 2019.
    • 

  • Felton Davis – Injured in 2019.
    • 



This doesn’t even include the Chiefs’ receiving leader Travis Kelce, who is technically a tight end. The news that Kansas City is returning their entire group of pass-catchers should strike fear into the hearts of NFL defenses. The Chiefs had the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL in 2019 with 4,690 yards throughout the regular-season.


Watkins, in particular, has played a huge role in the Chiefs’ postseason success over the past two seasons. When teams sought to take away players like Hill and Kelce, Watkins always was the guy to come up with the clutch plays. During the postseason, he’s caught a total of 24 passes for 464 yards and a touchdown in Kansas City. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes is 24 of 34 when targeting Watkins in the postseason, good for a 71% completion rate.


Now that Mahomes will have his full complement of weapons for the 2020 NFL season, it’ll allow the focuses in the NFL draft to shift in Kansas City. They won’t necessarily have to look for immediate contributors on the offensive side of the ball at the receiver position. They can look for players later in the draft or in undrafted free agency who could be ready to take on a bigger role in 2021.


[vertical-gallery id=62991]