| HEIGHT | 6' 0" | SHUTTLE | 4.34 seconds |
| WEIGHT | 175 lbs | VERTICAL | 33 5/8" |
| 40 TIME | 4.51 seconds |
Heavily recruited by Notre Dame and South Carolina as a cornerback, Jordan Addison spurned their advances in order to work at WR with Pittsburgh. Considering what we know about him today, Addison came out of nowhere as a wirey, but toolsy prospect without a true position for Tuscarora High School in Frederick, Maryland.
Statistical production at Tuscarora for Addison:
From Day 1 on the field for Pittsburgh, Addison showcased sudden feet when working in a phone booth, playing much bigger than his size would suggest. One of the traits that stands out the most is his fearless willingness to work over the middle of the field in front of safeties. Vital for success from all inside WRs, Addison uncovers very quickly when he's working underneath.
We don't have much of a luxury comparing his HS production to college but, like Kenny Pickett, his numbers certainly speak to the massive strides that resulted in collecting the Biletnikoff Award in Year 2:
Addison is excellent at discovering openings as a safety blanket for his QB on scramble drills. He really impressed with the patience his displays in his routes, working back to the ball with consistency. His work as a punt returner is likely to carry over into his NFL career.
Here are Addison's coverage scheme ranks (FPs/route) that detail a bit of work for him to do in the upcoming season:
Thin legs, thin frame. BMI likely to fall under the 25th-percentile compared to NFL Combine WR prospects from the last 10 seasons. Addison has a consistent issues with dropped passes. We really want to hear about him dedicating future time to the Jugs machine. And Addison didn't seem to face off with many physical corners, a factor that will most definitely come into play at the next level. If he's unable to adjust to the physicality, Addison could struggle in contested catch situations.
The Tuscarora Titans' offense was mostly a hot mess during his junior season, utilizing Addison as the wildcat quarterback in order to keep the ball in his hands. He ended up rushing for 874 yards and 10 TDs in 11 games.
It's absurd to imagine Addison at a position other than slot wideout, but Tuscarora didn't have much in the way of a QB to deliver him the ball - including his senior season when Jordan posted modest numbers. That was obviously not a factor in Pittsburgh, where Addison has led Panthers' receivers in receptions, yards and TDs in both of his seasons on campus.
| HEIGHT | 6' 0" | SHUTTLE | -- |
| WEIGHT | 198 lbs | VERTICAL | -- |
| 40 TIME | 4.37 seconds |
Kayshon Boutte quite literally burst onto the football circuit at Westgate High School in New Iberia, Louisiana with some of the cleanest get-off from the line in the nation, elite speed, excepetional body control - particularly during contested catches and wizard ball skills. His official 4.37-second 40-time would place him in the 78th-percentile if classed alongside NFL Combine WR prospects from the last 10 seasons.
Let's take a look at his career production, beginning with HS, to get a better idea of his development:
Boutte dedicated himself to a dual-threat role at Westgate, showcasing his sudden movement in a variety of ways. He also served as an occasional kickoff and punt returner, contributing another 874 yards and five TDs during those two seasons. Make no mistake, Boutte is unbridled electricity in space. The scariest part is that he is relatively early in the process of tapping into his full potential.
During the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game, Boutte led all receivers with a 7/73/0 line - also had a TD wiped on a holding penalty by the O-line - and reportedly outplayed every WR on the roster throughout the week of practice. Following the performance, scouting outlets reclassified Boutte as a five-star prospect.
Even with Alabama smothering him in the 11th hour to flip and eight other teams vying for his services, Boutte only had eyes for LSU. Here is his production data with the Tigers:
Boutte followed a similar progression with a 10 FPG increase from his junior-to-senior year in HS and an 8.7 FPG increase in his second season in Baton Rouge. Assuming his ankle checks out, we could be in store for a mammoth season from Kayshon.
An ankle injury ended Boutte's '21 season after six games, for which he recently underwent a second surgery, but is fully expected to be ready for the beginning of the 2022 season.
When healthy, this kid can ball out no matter who lines up across from him. But Boutte is not without areas where he can take his game to another level. After only four seasons since emerging as superstud, Boutte has already produced in the top-10 percentile of collegiate WRs in one-on-one matchups. Just don't get carried away with his overall FPG bottom line. Boutte does need to develop his recognition of the softest spots to attack in zone coverages. No time better than his final year in Death Valley to season that experience.
Granted, a large amount of the weakesses we see in his coverage scheme profile (below) was due to inefficient QB play from Myles Brennan and TJ Finley from the '20 season. When Boutte had an NFL-level QB under center (Max Johnson), his production went through the roof.
After leading LSU in receiving yards (735) and finishing second in receptions (45) and TDs (five) as a true freshman, Boutte collected Freshman All-SEC and Freshman All-American honors. Kayshon also set the SEC record for single-game receiving yards (308) in the final game of his '20 season against Ole Miss.
At the end of his final HS season, Boutte posted the third-fastest 200-meter time in the nation at 20.89-seconds. Prior to his true sophomore season at LSU, Boutte contributed to the fastest 4x200 relay ever recorded in Louisiana state history (1:28:87).
| HEIGHT | 6' 0" | SHUTTLE | 3.95 seconds |
| WEIGHT | 200 lbs | VERTICAL | 39.0" |
| 40 TIME | 4.43 seconds |
JERMAINE BURTON | WR | ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE | SUPER SOPHOMORE
Jermaine Burton is built with the steadiest of hands and the body strength to make late adjustments to his truly elite deep game. The size, ball skills and ability to go up and win when the ball is in the air on deep throws will instantly translate at the next level. He combines a smooth and sudden burst element with the desired size and speed to be a perimeter threat.
Raised with a work ethic to be great, Burton gathers, sinks and opens his frame to quickly present to his QB. Burton has an outstanding get-off from jam attempts. His routes are sharp and fast with rapid foot turnover. He manipulates CBs well away from his designed route and uses that physicality to gain separation. Burton showcases silky-smooth verticals, where he applies subtle shifts to avoid defenders attempts to get their hands on him.
Let's shift our attention to his HS production:
As you can see, Burton never averaged less than 21 YPR, highlighting his vertical prowess the earliest stage. We also see that he made significant strides in developing his overall production.
During his first two seasons in college - like most top wideouts, Burton may not have exploded onto the scene, but we can certainly see his plus traits are fighting to emerge:
Burton is equipped with a 40-time that would rank in the 69th-percentile, 5-10-5 shuttle in the 84th and a vertical in the 63rd when compared to NFL Combine WR prospects from the last 10 seasons. When reality sinks in that he generated those measurements as a 17-year-old, it's perfectly clear that this young man is going to be a force in the NFL.
Burton was handcuffed during his two years at Georgia, with QB play slamming the door on most of his clear potential during the '20 and '21 seasons. His coverage scheme success profile paints that painful picture:
In both seasons as UGA OC, Todd Monken has used the run to generate most of his offense. Burton badly needed this current change of scenary to bring his massive skill set into the spotlight. Still, with so many highly-touted receiving threats on the field at the same time for UGA, Jermaine faced a ton of zone looks and those factors also greatly limited his single coverage production. A leg injury in Week 5 last season forced him to miss the majority of 3.5 games, the only injury-related absence during his career.
Born in Orlando, raised in Atlanta. Burton began his career as a freshman at Hapeville Charter High in Atlanta, Georgia. He transferred to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida the following season, transferred again to Calabasas as a junior, went back to IMG Academy prior to senior season and finally returned to Calabasas midseason to close out his career.
Burton originally committed to LSU but, five days after making an official, 11th-hour visit to Athens, he chose to be closer to where he grew up and flipped his commitment to Georgia on the first day of the early signing period.
It was only a matter of time before Burton transferred out, even after aiding the squad to the '21 CFP National Championship. The passing game just wasn't a big part of the offense with Stetson Bennett under center or with Monken calling the plays. Burton originally campaigned from the transfer portal as a packaged deal with former UGA QB JT Daniels - a young man with one of the strongest arms in the country, but he couldn't pass up on a chance to catch passes from Bryce Young in Alabama.
Digging deeper, since 1969 only two WRs have been selected in the first round out of Georgia (A.J. Green in 2011 and Lindsay Scott in 1982). Whereas Alabama has seen seven of its WRs drafted in the first round over the last nine years.
| HEIGHT | 5' 11" | SHUTTLE | 4.50 seconds |
| WEIGHT | 179 lbs | VERTICAL | 37 1/4" |
| 40 TIME | 4.67 seconds |
After reportedly costing his middle school a chance at a championship by losing his grip on the rock, Marvin Mims hasn't fumbled the ball since. Long carrying a chip on his shoulder, Mims has been a well-rounded playmaker since long before his HS career (see below). We don't have data going back that far, but these numbers speak entirely for themselves:
Good luck attempting to find more than a handful of WRs with better numbers than Mims' senior season - sorry, Jaxon Smith-Njigba doesn't count. Mims earns his living splashing chunk-yardage vertically and using his game-breaking speed and explosiveness in the screen game. He has experience lining up outside (2020) and inside (2021), but might be relegated to the slot in the NFL.
With intermediate route seasoning at the next level, Mims will have everything he needs to work all three levels. But Mims sets himself apart over the top. He locates and tracks deep throws like few in college football. Let's check out his production with Oklahoma:
Mims has excellent control of his body to adjust his frame to the ball in flight. Perhaps his most important trait has been in gaining separation for his QB. Mims has an effortless knack for varying his route speed and proficient use of double moves. Smith-Njigba (67.8) and Mims (71.7) are the only two returning wideouts to generate a FPs/route rank average below 90.
Here are the specific coverage success ranks for Mims:
Entirely unafraid to fight through traffic for the ball is typically a plus trait, but Mims took a hit working over the middle against Baylor in '20 that forced him out with a 1/-1/0 receiving line. That underlines the need for Mims to add mass to his frame in order to, if for nothing else, tap into his stratospheric ceiling.
Mims currently has a lean frame and limbs. His size naturally surfaces concerns over long-term durability. Another reason to add another layer of muscle, his play strength is below average. As is obvious from Mims' rank vs. Cover 1 above, he has struggled with physical cornerbacks and vulnerable to being redirected on his routes. It goes without saying that NFL press coverage could be an issue.
Began career plaing at Frisco Legacy Christian High School in the city of his birth. Transferred to Lone Star HS the following year, earning the status as the Texas 5A Offensive Newcomer of the Year. In only nine games, Mims was honored as the Texas 5A Offensive MVP in 2018. But nobody could have anticipated the curtain call he would submit.
At the end of the 2019 season, Mims was voted Mr. Football in Texas after setting the state and national high school record with 2,626 receiving yards. Mims also posted the sixth-most receiving TDs (32) and 19th-most receptions (112) in a single season in Texas history.
For his HS career, Mims assembled the fourth-most receptions (261), the most receiving yards (5,485) and the fourth-most TDs (62) - one fewer than Smith-Njigba - in Texas history. His career receiving yardage total also ranks as the eighth-most in national HS history.
Back in 2019, exhausted from just arriving home from a road trip with his summer traveling basketball team, Mims ultimately made the decision to test at The Opening Regionals in his hometown of Frisco, Texas. After he clocked a 4.67-second 40-time, scouting outlets dropped Mims from a four- to a three-star prospect.
Originally earning a full scholarship to the one of the most selective universities in the nation, Stanford, Mims flipped that opportunity in order to play football at Oklahoma. Upon arriving at the Oklahoma campus, one of the first things inside receivers coach Cale Gundy had Mims do is re-test his 40-yard dash, reportedly timing him at 4.39.
Mims made an immediate splash, becoming the first Oklahoma WR in its history to be honored as a Freshman All-American. Leading the Sooners in receptions, yards and TDs, Mims was selected Second Team All-Big 12. Mims tied the Big 12 true freshman receiving TD record (nine - eight of which were of at least 20 yards) and ranked eighth in the nation in punt return average.
Mims' efficiency during the 2021 season suffered in Norman from uninspiring QB play from Spencer Rattler, leading to his benching in favor of Caleb Williams. Things took a further turn when HC Lincoln Riley departed to take the same job with USC. Regardless, Mims led the team in receptions, yards and finished second in TDs. In addition, Marvin paced Big 12 WRs, ranked fourth-highest in the country in YPR (22.0).
| HEIGHT | 6' 0" | SHUTTLE | 3.91 seconds |
| WEIGHT | 198 lbs | VERTICAL | 37.0" |
| 40 TIME | 4.59 seconds |
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is equipped with the tools to become one of the best WRs in NFL history. Keeping in mind that his 17th birthday was 17 days prior to the testing, Smith-Njigba's 40-time would place in the 46th-percentile, vertical jump in the 53rd and 5-10-5 shuttle in the 88th when compared to NFL Combine WR prospects from the last 10 seasons. The type of hands you see once in a lifetime, able to collect anything in range through traffic, route running skill beyond comprehension, perfect weight distribution, body control and the most sudden of moves, JSN has it all.
Take a gander at his numbers from Rockwall High School in the football-crazed state of Texas:
Jaxon led Texas 6A in receiving yards in his junior and senior seasons. In the Texas high school record books, Smith-Njigba posted the sixth-most single season receiving yards and third-most TDs as a senior in 2019. For his HS career, he generated the third-most receiving yards (5,414) and third-most TDs (63).
One of the last players invited to the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas for The Opening Regionals presented by Nike+ in 2019, Smith-Njigba led all receivers with 23 catches and four TDs in a 7-on-7 tournament. The events player of personnel, Ronny Torres - who annually analyzes the top players in the country in order to only distribute the 132 prized invites to the best-of-the-best, opined that Smith-Njigba is as close to being unguardable as you can get.
Prior to the 2021 broadcast of Ohio State hosting Michigan State in Week 12, a clip of Garrett Wilson being asked about JSN was televised, where he stated:
Jaxon is as good as I've ever seen, probably the best I've ever seen [and] the most natural athlete I've ever seen.
We didn't get to see much of JSN during his true freshman season, but this iconic play certainly stands out.
Here are his OSU numbers - take a look at the parallels between the improvements from his first-to-second seasons in HS (above) and in college:
Only six returning FBS WRs averaged an FPs/route rank below 100 against the Big Five coverage schemes (Cover 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6). Only two of those did their work in a Power Five conference: Smith-Njigba and Oklahoma's Marvin Mims.
Here are the specific scheme ranks for JSN:
In 50-plus seasons since the official NFL-AFL merger, only two WRs have been selected first overall in the NFL draft: Irving Fryar by the Patriots (1984) and Keyshawn Johnson by the Jets (1996). We just saw Ja'Marr Chase drafted fifth-overall by the Bengals in the '21 draft, which worked out quite well for Cincinnati. Projecting a WR as being superior to Chase is a lofty suggestion, but that only highlights how close to a perfect prospect that JSN appears to be on tape. Weaknesses?
An article in The Athletic tells of the legend surrounding JSN. It informs that he was running the full route tree and even incorporating double moves as a 13-year-old in middle school. It informs that his former coaches and teammates will forever tell the tale of how, while running in full stride during practice, he reached back with one hand behind his helmet to catch a 50-air yard post.
Former HC Rodney Webb reacted:
There's no way that happened. That's not humanly possible.
Allen High School, annually one of the top schools in the nation, was fresh off defeating Garrett Wilson, Hudson Card and their Lake Travis High squad in the Texas 6A State Championship in 2017 when they entered a matchup with Rockwall in the area playoffs the following season. In spite of his 14/267/3 receiving line, Smith-Njigba and his Yellowjackets fell 52-40. But JSN would not allow the same result against Allen the following season, posting a *15/258/5 *line with another TD on the ground to defeat Allen 60-59. Legendary.
After that season, Jaxon was named the 2019 Texas 6A Player of the Year - the only Rockwell player to ever receive the award - and honored as a National First Team All-American.
As a 19-year-old true sophomore, Smith-Njigba set the Ohio State record for most catches in a single game (15) in Week 10 at Nebraska. Later, during the 2022 Rose Bowl, his 347 receiving yards established the all-time record for all bowl games, the fifth-most in any game in FBS history and (obviously) reset the Ohio State standard. He also tied his own OSU reception record (15). You could say his first featured season in Columbus was a bit of a success.
Jaxon's older brother, Canaan Smith-Njigba, was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 MLB draft by the New York Yankees and later traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a package for Jameson Taillon.
