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Draft breakdown: Wide receivers

Posted Apr 13, 2010

Ford
Clemson's Jacoby Ford had the fastest 40-yard dash time at this year's Combine. (PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS)


ARRELIOUS BENN
6-foot-1 - 219 pounds - Illinois

After a stellar 2008, Benn was plagued by a spate of injuries in 2009 that began with a high ankle sprain suffered on the first series of the season. He still managed to play in 11 of 12 games but was far from 100 percent. As a result, his receptions dropped from 67 to 38, his yardage from 1,055 to 490 and his average per catch from 15.7 yards to 12.9 ... Was a first-team All-Big Ten choice in 2008 ... Also averaged 23.7 yards on 42 kickoff returns for the Fighting Illini ... Led all Combine wide receivers with 20 bench-press repetitions ... Clocked at 4.40 and 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his Pro Day workout.
NFL.com bio

DEZ BRYANT
6-foot-2 - 225 pounds - Oklahoma State

His numbers are impressive enough -- 147 receptions, 2,425 yards, 29 touchdowns and an average of one touchdown every 4.52 receptions in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. But all of that was overshadowed by a 10-game NCAA suspension last year regarding a visit with Deion Sanders. "Going out to Deion Sanders’ house wasn’t a violation, but lying was a violation, so I got the punishment," Bryant said at the Combine ... Posted 40-yard dash times of 4.52, 4.68 and 4.52 seconds at a private workout in late March.
NFL.com bio

ERIC DECKER
6-foot-3 - 217 pounds - Minnesota

Has not worked out fully in the months leading up to the draft while recovering from a foot injury that ended his college career with a month remaining in the regular season ... Had four 100-yard games in the season's first five weeks and was averaging 94.8 yards per game prior to his injury ... Ranks sixth in Big Ten annals in receptions and eighth in receiving yardage, leading Minnesota in both categories ... The injury was difficult to handle. "It’s hard to, I guess, understand it and digest it because what happened is I just made a cut. I didn’t get hit," Decker said at the Combine. "I didn’t fall in a weird position. And that’s the end of your college career. Like I said, things happen for a reason and I’m making the best of it." ... Renowned for his sure hands and according to some statistical measurements, only dropped three passes in his Gophers career.
NFL.com bio

JACOBY FORD
5-foot-9 - 186 pounds - Clemson

Steadily improved in four years at Clemson and posted career highs in receptions (56), receiving yards (779) and touchdown catches (six) as a senior ... Was this year's Combine 40-yard dash champion, covering the distance in 4.28 seconds ... Also had extensive kickoff and punt return experience, averaging 23.9 yards on kickoffs and 9.8 yards on punts ... Had two touchdowns on punt returns and one on a kickoff ... Ran track and won the 60-meter dash at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2009.
NFL.com bio

MARDY GILYARD
6-feet - 187 pounds - Cincinnati

Highly productive the last two years, with 168 receptions for 2,467 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2008 and 2009 combined ... Had 1,276 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2008 and 1,191 yards and 11 touchdowns last year ... Missed 2006 because of academic issues; he lost his scholarship and was forced to work four different jobs before he could re-claim his scholarship. "I was homeless in the city. I lost my scholarship. I got evicted from my house. With that all in mind, I had to find faith and myself. I had to grow up," Gilyard recalled at the Combine. "I was a real knucklehead kid. Arrogant, cocky, immature. I had to grow up." ... Lived out of his 2002 Grand Am while away from school for what turned into a six-and-a-half month stretch. "That was the easiest rent I had to pay," he said ... Posted 40 times of 4.52 and 4.55 seconds at his March Pro Day.
NFL.com bio

BRANDON LaFELL
6-foot-2 - 211 pounds - LSU

Had a career-best 11 touchdowns as a senior, capping a year in which he grabbed 57 passes for 792 yards ... Had career highs in receptions (63) and yardage (929) as a junior ... Suffered a medial collateral ligament injury late last season but had recovered by the Combine ... Clocked at 4.54 and 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash during his Pro Day workout.
NFL.com bio

CARLTON MITCHELL
6-foot-3 - 215 pounds - South Florida

Had career highs in receptions (40) and yardage (706) last year, but those numbers were not what he hoped to achieve after USF was forced to break in a freshman quarterback (B.J. Daniels) following a season-ending knee injury to three-year starter Matt Grothe ... His mother would often serve as cut-woman for boxer Antonio Tarver, and Mitchell's exposure to boxing helped formulate his workout regimen, which is heavy on jumping rope ... Ran the 40-yard dash in 4.49 seconds at the Combine.
NFL.com bio

TAYLOR PRICE
6-feet - 204 pounds - Ohio

Speedy receiver had career highs in receptions (56) and yardage (784) as a senior, earning an invitation to the Senior Bowl ... Had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time among Combine wide receivers, covering the distance in 4.41 seconds ... Switched from cornerback to receiver after arriving at Ohio. "It was an easy adjustment. It’s always been natural for me to run and catch," Price said at the Combine.
NFL.com bio

ANDRE ROBERTS
5-foot-11 - 195 pounds - The Citadel

Ran a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, placing him second among wide receivers ... Had 77 receptions for 792 yards and eight touchdowns ... Was invited to the Senior Bowl ... Scored at least one touchdown in 10 consecutive games between 2007 and 2008 seasons.
NFL.com bio

JORDAN SHIPLEY
5-foot-11 - 193 pounds - Texas

A first-team All-American last year who set Texas single-season records in receptions (116) and yardage (1,485), with 13 of his catches going for touchdowns ... Racked up 33 touchdown receptions in his career ... Had consecutive 1,000-yard seasons in 2008 and 2009 ... Also returned punts and kickoffs for the Longhorns; he scored three times on 72 career punt returns. "That’s one of my favorite parts of football," Shipley said at the Combine. "I’ve loved it since I was a kid. I’m excited about the opportunity, and hopefully I’ll get the chance to return some punts and kicks."
NFL.com bio

GOLDEN TATE
5-foot-10 - 199 pounds - Notre Dame

The pass-intensive, pro-style offense Notre Dame ran under former head coach Charlie Weis afforded Tate ample opportunity to impress, and he capitalized, logging back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, including his 93-reception, 1,496-yard campaign last year ... Turned pro with one year of eligibility remaining. "I spoke with Coach Weis before the season, before we played a down before camp. He said, 'Unless you have around 1,500 yards and around 16 or 17 touchdowns I would not leave early,'" Tate recalled. "I had (nearly) 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns." ... Ran the 40 in 4.42 seconds at the Combine, placing him fourth among wide receivers.
NFL.com bio

DEMARYIUS THOMAS
6-foot-3 - 224 pounds - Georgia Tech

A big-play wide receiver can take the triple-option offense to a higher stratum. That was the role Thomas filled for the Yellow Jackets; even though he only caught 46 passes last year, he averaged 25.1 yards per reception and finished with 1,151 yards, coming just 31 yards short of surpassing his total from the previous two seasons ... His college performance has to carry him through the draft, as he injured the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot this winter and could not work out at the Combine or his Pro Day ... Told media at the Combine he ran a 4.38 40 just before his injury.
NFL.com bio

DAMIAN WILLIAMS
6-foot-1 - 197 pounds - USC

Had 1,010 yards on 70 receptions with six touchdowns last year ... Also scored twice on 44 punt returns ... First-team All-Pacific 10 as a receiver and punt returner as a senior ... Had 189 yards on 12 receptions in his final college game, an Emerald Bowl win over Boston College ... Led USC in receiving in each of the last two years ... Transferred from Arkansas after his freshman season. NFL.com bio

OTHER WIDE RECEIVERS OF NOTE
NAME HEIGHT WEIGHT SCHOOL
Seyi Ajirotutu 6-3 204 Fresno State
Danario Alexander 6-5 215 Missouri
Alric Arnett 6-2 188 West Virginia
Brandon Banks 5-7 149 Kansas State
Chris Bell 6-2 211 Norfolk State
Nyan Boateng 6-1 204 California
Dezmon Briscoe 6-2 207 Kansas
Antonio Brown 5-10 186 Central Michigan
Chris Carter 5-11 191 Cal Davis
Riley Cooper 6-3 222 Florida
Marcus Easley 6-3 210 Connecticut
David Gettis 6-3 217 Baylor
Shay Hodge 6-1 209 Mississippi
Brandon James 5-6 176 Florida
Donald Jones 6-0 214 Youngstown State
Kevin Jurovich 6-0 188 San Jose State
Scott Long 6-2 216 Louisville
Chris McGaha 6-1 201 Arizona State
Kerry Meier 6-2 224 Kansas
Preston Parker 5-11 199 North Alabama
Jared Perry 6-1 178 Missouri
David Reed 6-0 191 Utah
Emmanuel Sanders 5-11 186 Southern Methodist
Verran Tucker 6-2 200 California
Chastin West 6-0 212 Fresno State
Blair White 6-2 209 Michigan State
Jeremy Williams 6-0 206 Tulane
Kyle Williams 5-10 188 Arizona State
Mike Williams 6-1 221 Syracuse
Stephen Williams 6-4 210 Toledo
Ryan Wolfe 6-1 205 UNLV

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