|
|
Reggie Roberson Jr. NFL Draft Profile
|
Reggie Roberson Jr. Scouting ReportRoberson has excellent technical ability at all stages of the receiving process — those being release, route running, catch point, and after the catch. He can gain separation on release with quick footwork, impressive agility, and technically refined handwork. He’s a handful for defensive backs to contain right from the snap. Roberson’s footwork and agility are apparent in his route running. He makes adjustments with ease due to his lateral agility, and the deceptiveness of his footwork can shake defensive backs out of their skin. He also displays football intelligence in that he is able to ghost into spaces in zone coverage and create big plays this way. Robinson’s intelligence is also on display with his vision as an after-the-catch threat. Roberson’s calling card as a wide receiver prospect is his speed. He creates separation with his acceleration and top-end quickness. Once he has the ball in his hands, he’s a good bet to take it to the house with elusiveness, the lateral agility to cut, and long speed. He isn’t easily taken down on contact either. As an actual catcher of the ball, Roberson showcases impressive ball tracking and also plucks the ball out of the air with excellent technique. Additionally, he has the body control to reposition himself to make a play on the ball when faced with errant throws. |
Areas for ImprovementRoberson was a hot NFL Draft prospect following his successful start to the 2020 college football season. However, despite his Senior Bowl invite, Roberson has somewhat flown under the radar in this cycle as an almost forgotten prospect in a deep WR class. While his scouting report reveals the talent to make an impression on the NFL, Reggie also has some points of concern and areas for improvement. The causes for concern start with his injury history. Suffering season-ending injuries in consecutive seasons will raise red flags for the NFL. Roberson’s 2020 knee injury is perhaps more concerning given it was a non-contact injury. The medical checks at the NFL Combine will be an influential part of Roberson’s NFL Draft process. The injury concerns might not be as heightened if he’d returned to his explosive best this season. However, Reggie didn’t look to be as fast or possess the same level of explosion as in previous seasons. It might be — and I certainly hope it is — just a case of rust, or SMU gradually working him back up to full speed because they didn’t want to push him too hard in a pivotal year. When speed and explosion are your calling card, a lack of either is a concern. Roberson could use a little more physicality in his game. He doesn’t bully cornerbacks at the line of scrimmage when faced with press coverage. At the catch point, he isn’t a physical threat either. If this is apparent at the college level, it will only be exacerbated in the NFL. |
Reggie Roberson Jr. Career at SchoolRoberson’s career at West Virginia didn’t last long. As a freshman in the 2017 season, he saw time on special teams with limited action as a wide receiver. In total, he tallied just 6 receptions for 30 yards. Despite the limited opportunity, the true freshman receiver did snag his first career touchdown against Delaware State. The offseason saw a large number of departures from West Virginia. Wanting to find a program that would allow him to return closer to home, Roberson entered the transfer portal. SMU hadn’t offered him coming out of high school, but they took their opportunity to snag a dangerous pass catcher. After gaining a hardship waiver from the NCAA, Roberson was immediately eligible to play for the Mustangs in 2018. He made an immediate impact, snagging 4 catches for 67 yards in his debut. It was just a small taster of things to come, as Reggie tallied four games with over 100 yards during his sophomore campaign. Although Roberson posted exceptional performances in his sophomore campaign, there was still more to come during his junior season. Roberson opened 2019 with 180 yards at Arkansas State. Reggie also added another 100-plus-yard game to his résumé against TCU. However, he garnered national attention after a blistering performance against Temple. Roberson averaged a ridiculous 31.3 yards per catch as he tore up the Owls for a mind-blowing 250 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sadly, one game later, his season prematurely ended due to a foot injury. Reggie ended the year with 803 yards and 6 touchdowns in just eight games. Despite the injury and the disruption to the 2020 college football season, Roberson returned in devastating and dominant form. Reggie averaged 100 receiving yards and scored 3 touchdowns through his first two games of the year. Against Memphis in Week 4, he took the college football world by storm, racking up 243 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He became the first player to surpass 240 yards on 5 or fewer receptions for 25 years. Unfortunately, he also suffered a non-contact knee injury that ended his season. Draft eligible, he opted to return for another year in 2021, earning preseason first-team All-AAC accolades from multiple publications. |
Reggie Roberson Jr. NFL Draft Player ProfileRoberson has failed to surpass his production from previous seasons, he still put together a relatively productive campaign amongst a competitive WR room at SMU. He snagged a touchdown in a run of five consecutive games that stretched from Louisiana Tech to Tulane. Against Navy, he tallied his only 100-yard receiving game of the season. Roberson ended the year with 51 receptions, 625 yards, 6 TDs, and most importantly for his 2022 NFL Draft stock, a Senior Bowl invite.
|
 |