Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Marcell Ateman Scouting Report


Written by Christian Lysek
Devin Lawrence Wilber/O'Colly
Oklahoma State WR Marcell Ateman Scouting Report:
When it comes to Oklahoma State wide receivers, James Washington is all people talk about, and his excellent play does deserve the buzz. However, the James Washington talk has overshadowed the fact that there is another potential star Cowboy receiver in the form of Marcell Ateman. Over the course of his college career, Ateman has shown the potential to be a premier possession receiver in the NFL. Here's why:
Measurables: 6’4-1/2’’, 216 lbs, 32-7/8’’ arms, 9’’ hands
Year (Age): Five Year Senior (23)
Career stats by year:
Receiving
Rushing
Scrimmage

Year
School
Conf
Class
Pos
G
Rec
Yds
Avg
TD
Att
Yds
Avg
TD
Plays
Yds
Avg
TD
FR
WR
10
22
276
12.5
0
0
0
0
22
276
12.5
0
SO
WR
8
20
268
13.4
0
0
0
0
20
268
13.4
0
JR
WR
12
45
766
17.0
5
1
1
1.0
0
46
767
16.7
5
SR
WR
13
59
1156
19.6
8
0
0
0
59
1156
19.6
8
Career
146
2466
16.9
13
1
1
1.0
0
147
2467
16.8
13

Drop Rate: 3.3%
Pro Day: 
40-yard Dash: 4.62 seconds
Vertical Jump: 34 inches
Broad Jump: 121 inches
3-cone Drill: 7.07 seconds
20-yard Shuttle: 4.25 seconds
60-yard Shuttle: 11.94 seconds
Bench Press: 13 reps
Tape Evaluation:
Strengths: Marcell Ateman has the build of a WR1. Standing at over 6’4’’and weighing 216 pounds, Ateman has a big, strong frame built for winning contested catches. Ateman has good hands and great concentration, as he almost never has drops where nobody contacts him. His hands and athleticism shine when balls are poorly thrown, as he can climb the ladder to grab high balls and get low to the ground to catch ugly ducklings. Ateman is tough to bring down after the catch due to his strong frame and good enough speed.  Ateman is also a very good blocker who gives effort and displays good technique.
Weaknesses: Ateman is not fast enough to consistently get vertical separation. He can catch deep passes, but only against bigger slow corners, because otherwise it is easy to keep up with him. Because he lacks speed, Ateman has to rely on strength and route running to get open. Unfortunately, Ateman isn’t a good route runner. He isn’t deceptive at all in his intentions, he is slow in and out of his breaks, and he rounds off routes all the time. Because of this, it is easy for quick thinking defenders to jump routes and make plays on the ball. While Ateman does have good hands, he does struggle when a defender throws his hands into the mix. He often lacks the strength to hold onto the ball against the defenders.
Pro Comparison: Cameron Meredith
Cameron Meredith broke out for the Chicago Bears in 2015 thanks to his good hands and athleticism. He may not be all that fast on film, but his route running, strength, and hands lead him to success. If Ateman improves his route running, he will find himself enjoying a productive career like Meredith.

 Teams that Fit: The Bills need lots of help at the wide receiver position and having another big-bodied wide receiver to develop alongside Kelvin Benjamin would be a wise move, especially with Benjamin’s injury history. The Brandon Marshall signing was a major flop for the Giants, so replacing him with a younger option like Ateman should be a priority. With Allen Robinson leaving, the Jaguars lost their red-zone threat, and a late round option like Ateman could fill the hole.

Where he should go: 4th Round
Where he (probably) will go: 4th Round
Conclusion:
Marcell Ateman has WR1 potential, but his lack of speed and poor route running is holding him back. With a good wide receiver coach, Ateman could be a steal in this draft.

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Combine Results courtesy of MockDraftable.com, Drop Percentage courtesy of Pro Football Focus, Career Statistics courtesy of sports-reference.com/cfb, Date of Birth courtesy of Scout Hub







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