Zay Jones Scouting Report: The NCAA Reception Record Breaker

Written By Christian Lysek

East Carolina wide receiver Zay Jones broke his former teammate Justin Hardy's reception record this year with 399 catches. He is similar to Donnel Pumphrey in they way that while he is a record-setting college player with some uncertainties about his pro career. Fortunately, Zay Jones is making the most of his Senior Bowl invite and is gaining steam heading into the NFL draft. Here's why:


Measurables: 
Height- 6'2''
Weight- 202 lbs
Year:
Senior (21)
2016 Stat Line:
158 receptions, 1746 receiving yards, 8 TDs, 4 rushes, 24 yards

Pros: Zay Jones has steel traps for hands. He extends his hands to catch the ball, which limits his drops and makes it harder for corners to defend him. Part of the reason he catches so well is that he always finds a way to get open whether it be beating a corner in man or finding holes in zone coverage. He does not run many routes at ECU, but the ones he does run he runs at a high quality. He has quick feet which help with route running and gaining yards after the catch, something Jones is quite good at. Jones also has enough size and strength to block of screens and runs, something ECU asked him to do quite often. On top of that, Jones' 6'2'', 202-pound frame give him enough size to play inside or outside of the numbers.

Cons: Jones spent most of his college career catching short passes and gaining yards after the catch. While he flashes field-stretching ability, he lacks the elite speed to consistently get open down the field. Jones is extremely agile, but he does not have enough strength to run through or past strong tacklers. Jones also ran a limited route tree in college so he will need to learn a new skill set in the pros.

Pro Comparison: Stefon Diggs
Diggs is the leading receiver for the Minnesota Vikings. Diggs wins with strong hands, good route running, and extreme foot quickness rather than pure speed. Diggs primarily works out of the slot, but he does just fine working outside of the numbers. Jones will probably be a possession receiver like Diggs, but Jones has more potential working on the outside than his counterpart.

3 Teams that fit him: The 49ers are desperate for talent at the wide receiver position, and finding a consistent threat such as Jones would help a struggling passing offense. The Ravens will be experiencing changes at the wide receiver position with the retirement of Steve Smith and lingering free agency of Mike Wallace, so pairing Jones' possession ability with Breshad Perriman's big play threat, the Ravens can avoid taking much of a step back offensively. With Jeremy Maclin hurt, the Chiefs weakness at wide receiver was exposed. Jones could complement Tyreek Hill's explosion with precise route running and sure hands.

Conclusion: While Zay Jones lacks elite athleticism, he is a technician at wide receiver and has shown consistency while at East Carolina. His route hands and quickness will convince some team to pull the trigger in rounds 2-3.