2017 NFL Draft: USC JuJu Smith-Schuster Scouting Report
By Jon Dove
USC’s JuJu Smith-Schuster is a talented playmaker who has the potential to be a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL.
JuJu Smith-Schuster wins thanks to his combination of size and speed. He is a quick-twitch athlete who can stretch the field. His short-area burst also allows him to create separation on short and intermediate routes.
Smith-Schuster’s size and aggressive style of play is something that really helps out his quarterback. He routinely works back for the ball and plucks it with his hands away from his frame. His style of play and physical nature remind me a lot of Brandon Marshall.
This extends to how he fights for yards after the catch. He isn’t afraid of contact and will battle for every extra yard.
He features excellent body control which allows him to haul in poorly thrown passes. It also comes in handy in the red zone. His combination of size, leaping ability and body control are the ingredients for a great red-zone target.
Smith-Schuster is a smooth athlete which helps change direction without losing speed. USC’s offensive allows him to run a wide-number of different routes. This will help speed up his transition to the NFL and learning pro-style offenses.
He needs to work on his effort as a blocker as there are occasions where he seems disinterested in blocking. With Smith-Schuster’s size and strength, he should be an asset as a blocker and help spring some long runs for his running backs.
Overall, this is an extremely talent prospect who could come off the board in the top-10 of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Current Draft Position: 1st Round