There are plenty of prospects in this 2016 NFL Draft class that can run; some can even flat out fly. Yet, none are in Will Fuller’s class. So much so that the former Notre Dame All-American was faster than even he expected. As he sat at his assigned table for media availability at February’s NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Ind., he was asked how fast he was going to run the 40-yard dash. He looked at his inquisitor and gave a definitive and exact answer.
“4.35. That’s what I’ve been doing in training,” Fuller said.
He was wrong. He ran it in 4.32 seconds, the fastest receiver 40-yard dash in Indianapolis and the only one to beat his estimate to the media. If anyone didn’t know about Fuller before that sprint, they knew about him after.
The difference between fast guys and Fuller is that he plays at his 4.32 speed every time he sets foot on the field. At Notre Dame, he flew past college corners regularly and was one of the most dangerous threats Irish eyes have ever seen. In 2014, Fuller caught 76 passes for just under 1,100 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per catch. He was a screen, catch-and-run threat like no one else in the college game. In fact, this was my scouting report on him prior to the 2015 season:
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Explosive catch and run ability … great on tunnel/smoke/bubble screens … ability to go from 0 to 60 is outstanding … when he builds up to full speed, defenders look to be chasing in slow motion … hitch screens/tunnel screens – the Irish get him the ball and let him work in space … slants and posts … that’s his game … has good hands but seemingly doesn’t trust his hands all the time … tries to body catch on occasion when he should just trust his glue.
In 2015, though, he consistently blew the top off defenses. He only had 62 catches, but he averaged over 20 yards per catch, including game-winning touchdowns at Virginia and at Temple on deep throws down the field. Defenses couldn’t press him any more at the line of scrimmage as he would just run past them on the nine route — that’s the “go long” pattern, for the uninitiated. With all the injuries Notre Dame suffered on the offensive side of the ball, Fuller was the one constant. A fast one at that.
While he isn’t the top receiver on my board, his speed is going to be very appealing to a number of teams in the first round.
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1. Laquon Treadwell, Ole Miss
Projected: 1st round
He ran a 4.6 at his pro day. So what? As it pertains to Treadwell, here’s some advice: don’t overthink it. He’s a pure ball player that’ll be a star in the NFL for years to come. He doesn’t need to get separation like others because he has glue sticks for hands and catches everything thrown his way. Look, it’s not rocket science; when you see a good football player, you know it. Treadwell is that guy.
2. Corey Coleman, Baylor
Projected: 1st round
He didn’t run the full route tree at Baylor and it’ll take a bit of time to get comfortable with the nuances of running routes at an NFL level. That said, just get the ball in his hands and get out of his way. He’s not a tall receiver, measuring just 5-foot-10, but he’s strong and well put together. He does, though, play much bigger than his listed height as he posted a 40.5-inch vertical at the combine, a trait which has allowed him to make contested catches down the field throughout his career.
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3. Will Fuller, Notre Dame
Projected: 1st round
See above.
4. Josh Doctson, TCU
Projected: 2nd round
Doctson is the consummate area code receiver. Just throw the ball anywhere in his area code and he’s going to come down with it. Perhaps no receiver made as many contested, 50/50 catches for touchdowns as Doctson did at TCU. At 6-2 with a 41-inch vertical, it’s easy to see why he was so dangerous in the red zone, in particular. He only ran 4.50, but he got behind more than his share of college corners during his career.
5. Tyler Boyd, Pittsburgh
Projected: 2nd round
Former Pitt QB Tom Savage’s eyes lit up when asked about Boyd a few years ago. “He’s the truth,” Savage remarked after Boyd’s true freshman season. His production slipped in 2015 but he can play inside and out with some of the best hands in this receiver class. Some have soured on Boyd because he didn’t time well in Indianapolis, but he plays faster than his time.
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6. Michael Thomas, Ohio State
Projected: 2nd round
The nephew of Keyshawn Johnson is a route-running maestro. On Labor Day on national television, Thomas was matched up with Virginia Tech star CB Kendall Fuller. Isolated one-on-one, best on best, Thomas ran a double move, stutter and go, leaving Fuller gasping for air as he ran past him for an easy touchdown catch. Furthermore, Thomas is tough after the catch and has excellent hands.
7. Leonte Carroo, Rutgers
Projected: 2nd round
This might surprise some, but Carroo is as close to a complete receiver as anyone on this list. He’s not the burner that Fuller is. He’s not the physical specimen that Treadwell is. But, watch him operate during practice or games. He’s a clinician with his routes and a strong runner after the catch. At the Senior Bowl, he was so precise and exact with everything he did and had scouts’ attention throughout the week before an ankle injury sidelined him.
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8. Sterling Shepard, Oklahoma
Projected: 2nd round
The Sooner legacy played both inside and out at Oklahoma, but he’s a ready-made slot receiver at the next level. He has “stop-on-the-dime-and-give-you-change” quickness and hands to match. He’s not big by NFL standards, but, as with guys like Randall Cobb, Wes Welker and Julian Edelman, you’ve got to catch him first before size starts to matter. With outstanding return ability, he could be the 2016 version of Seattle’s Tyler Lockett.
9. Braxton Miller, Ohio State
Projected: 2nd round/3rd round
There might not be a more dangerous and dynamic player with the ball in his hands than Miller. The reason he’s ninth on this list is that he’s got a lot of work to do as a receiver. He did show some growth at the Senior Bowl, but he needs more time to grasp the intricacies of the position. Worst case, though, he’s a slash player (can play RB/WR/RET) a la Kordell Stewart. Best case, he’s Randall Cobb with a nasty spin move and unmatched juke moves.
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10. Pharoh Cooper, South Carolina
Projected: 2nd round/3rd round
A former quarterback, like Miller, Cooper is electric with the ball in his hands. Unlike Miller, Cooper played three years at receiver, so he had the opportunity to hone his skills at South Carolina. He’s quicker than he is fast and he must learn to get separation on his routes in the future. But, he’s competitive, tough and outstanding after the catch, especially from an inside slot position.
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