Alshon Jeffery 2012 NFL Draft scouting report

Alshon Jeffery

6’3, 215 pounds | Wide receiver | South Carolina

Body control: Jeffery has good instincts and can react well to off target passes with his good body control and athleticism to make the catch. He consistently shows the ability to adjust his body and make acrobatic catches in jump ball situations. He can track the ball well in the air and can adjust his body to make the catch over either shoulder well.

Hands: He has very good hands and routinely catches the ball well using his good hand-eye coordination to pluck the ball from the air. He aggressively attacks the ball when pass is thrown off target and makes attempt to make the catch. He can make the acrobatic catch with one hand with his above average hand size then secure the pass before contact.

Release: He relies too often on his long frame to get by the cornerback due to average burst off of the snap. He has the size, playing strength, and foot quickness to defeat the cornerback jam. He can be slowed down though if he does not use good hand placement.

Route running: He struggles getting in and out of his cuts quickly because of his long legs on quick hitting routes and needs to learn to sink his hips more. He uses his size and length well to adjust to deep passes on deep routes and sheds the defender very good. He is not afraid of contact and will attack the ball aggressively when running routes in the middle of the field.

Size: Jeffery is a good athlete with long limbs and has the size and playing strength to play outside or in the slot. He uses his long tall frame consistently to shield the defender to make catches on quick hitting plays and downfield passes. He is a threat in the red zone because of his very good leaping ability and good hands. He wins the majority of jump ball situations because of his length and athleticism.

Speed: He does not have elite speed and burst, but has adequate playing speed and deceptive acceleration to get yards after the catch. He does not consistently get separation from the defender and relies more on his length and size to shield the defender to make the catch. He is not explosive at changing directions, but he comes out of his cuts fairly well to make the catch.

Final word: Jeffery had an outstanding sophomore season at South Carolina where he had 88 receptions, 1,517 yards, and 9 td catches. His production fell off in 2011, mainly due to inconsistent play from the QB and their improved running game. His overall speed had been in question until he ran a good time in the 40 yard dash at his pro day, which may help him get drafted in the late 1st round. He should definitely be drafted early in the 2nd round. Overall, Jeffery has the skillset to be a good compliment receiver right out of the gate. He will be valuable in the red zone because of his length, good hands, and leaping ability. He can turn into a solid number one receiver in time with better techniques in route running and the use of his hands to get off of the line faster.