He's the classic 'X' receiver in a modern playbook: line him up outside against the opponent's CB1 and the rule is 'go win.' On 1st down, they use him on slants and 12-to-15 yard digs to move the chains. On 2nd & long, he's going vertical on a go or an 18-yard post. On 3rd & medium, the fade against press is automatic. Ohio State moved him into the slot for 18% of his snaps in 2025 to scheme him free releases against Cover-2, and what he does against Tampa-2 from there is just unfair. I find him most comfortable between the 20s, out wide, against man coverage with limited safety help — he averages 18 yards per reception. His biggest weakness? The horizontal quick game: his 215-pound frame needs an extra half-step to decelerate. It's a nitpick, but it's there.

1. 01

   Contested catches

   His 78% contested catch rate leads the nation by a wide margin. It isn't just the number I like, it's how he does it: he uses his body to box out the CB, and his timing on jumps is like a basketball player's. If your QB sees a 1-on-1, just throw it up and forget about it.

2. 02

   Release package

   He has three distinct releases vs. press and rotates them based on what the CB shows him. A stab-rip when given outside leverage, a hesitation when the corner shows his hands, a swim if there's a safety inside. Players normally develop this after a few years in the NFL. He already has it.

3. 03

   Durable Frame

   6'3", 215, with 33+ inch arms. Cut from the same cloth as Calvin Johnson and A.J. Brown. Bodies like that survive 17-game seasons without losing their explosiveness. In the red zone against 6'0" NFL DBs, he could get you 12-14 TDs his first year if the QB knows where to look.

4. 04

   Production vs. Top Competition

   180 yards vs. Penn State, 165 vs. Michigan, 142 vs. Texas in the CFP. When the competition gets better, so does he. You can't coach that.

1. 01

   Limited Route Tree

   Ohio State primarily uses him on six routes — go, post, slant, dig, comeback, screen. The routes the NFL will ask him to run (option routes, sail concepts, angle routes) are still pending. It’s not an alarm bell, just a job for his position coach. But it's on the list.

2. 02

   Drops

   Six drops in 2025. Several of them on easy throws. A 6.3% drop rate is high for an alpha. I don't see a structural problem, but I do see intermittent lapses in concentration. Needs to be cleaned up.

3. 03

   Helmet Turn at the Stem

   When he turns his head at the top of his stem against Cover-3 buzz looks, he loses a tick of separation at the break point. It's the only imperfect aspect of his timing. NFL reps will fix it, but it's on tape and a GM is going to ask about it.

4. 04

   Limited Slot Experience

   Only 18% of his snaps came from the inside. If you want to use him in the Ja'Marr Chase model—moving him around to protect him from the CB1—he still needs more reps there. Again, not a red flag, just context.

• Early Career Workload

  Over 165 targets in two consecutive years. His body can handle it now, but the history of wide receivers with a heavy freshman workload suggests some wear-and-tear around year 6 or 7.

• Drops in the Spotlight

  Two of his six drops in 2025 came in the CFP. It's a small sample size, but you have to verify his focus in big moments.

• Sophisticated NFL Coverages

  The Big Ten didn't show him many Fangio-style Cover-6 looks with legitimate pre-snap disguise. His post-snap processing against those schemes is the only major question I have left.