2016 WR Prospects

My replacement for Anquan Boldin........WR Pharoh Cooper, 5-11, 210lbs, 4.5 speed

CBS writeup on him:
"Unlike some coaches who spread the ball around at the cost of taking away opportunities for the team's best players, Spurrier has always been willing to feed his stars. He and the South Carolina coaching staff realized early on the versatility and big play potential that Cooper provided, as he finished third on the team with 655 all-purpose yards as a true freshman in 2013. His success as a freshman provided just a hint of what was to come a year later when Cooper finished third in the SEC in receptions (69), second in receiving yards (1,136) and receiving yards per game (87.4), fourth in receptions per game (5.3) and ninth in all-purpose yards/game (108.5) earning first team All-SEC honors at receiver from rival coaches and the media alike, as well as second team honors as a returner in 2014.

As his production indicates, Cooper is a jack-of-all trades for the Gamecocks and projects as a similarly versatile player in the NFL. He's not stout enough to routinely handle carries at the next level but does show vision, subtle cuts and balance to absorb a hit and keep his feet, traits which will help him maintain a steady role as a returner. He's quick to the hole, wasting no time dancing and accelerates smoothly. Ball protection could be an issue as twice he fumbled against Miami in South Carolina's Independence Bowl victory to finish last season.

Cooper's production as a receiver a year ago is perhaps most exciting because there is still plenty of untapped potential for him in this regard. Cooper wasn't asked to run many complicated routes in South Carolina's offense, often going in motion for quick dump-offs, quick-screens or verticals. When asked to run more intricate routes like post-corners, Cooper shows that he's still a work in progress as a route-runner, shuffling rather than exploding out of his cuts. Cooper generally has good hands, exhibiting impressive body control and hand-eye coordination to pluck throws from outside of his frame. He appears to be more comfortable coming back towards the ball rather than tracking it over his shoulder at this time."

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25285666/nfl-draft-do-everything-pharoh-cooper-tops-at-south-carolina

Writeup was from August, if you've watched South Carolina this year you'll see they use him a lot more as a traditional WR running routes. Is he finished product? Nope. But his potential....

Sophmore highlight video:





Can't find a full game for him this year on YouTube, some of his catches I found (he is #11):











Best one (watch his move off the line):

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
What this guy said.

Would be a sexy haul no doubt.

Pharoh Cooper is a good player but imo i don't see him as that much better than Bruce Ellington.

Originally posted by genus49:
Pharoh Cooper is a good player but imo i don't see him as that much better than Bruce Ellington.

They aren't even similar players!

To get some outside opinion, here is the Combine comments on Ellington: Is short and small-framed -- durability could be an issue. Could stand to become a more nuanced route runner. Can be outmuscled in a crowd -- not a go-up-and-get-it guy. Limited run strength. Underpowered blocker. Too often was a non-factor -- was held to one catch or less in five games as a junior. Was not a home-run hitter in the return game.

That's nothing like Pharoh who is 5'11 and about 210lbs and powerful runner, and a go-up-and-get-it is exactly him. Go look at those catches/highlights I posted.

Then look at their production.
Ellington in his last 2 years: 89 catches, 1375 yards, 15TDs. This was with Connor Show throwing to him who was pretty decent.

Cooper's last 2 years (current year still going obviously): 109 catches, 1700 yards, 13 TDs. And that is with 4 different QBs throwing to him, none of whom are nearly as good as Connor Shaw.


Are there similarities? Sure they both play on South Carolina and are used as a playmaker in a variety of roles. The similarities end there..


edit: Or look how SEC coaches view him. Ellington didn't make the All-SEC team in 2013. Meanwhile "Cooper was named as a first-team receiver, all-purpose player and return specialist.Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article32356374.html#storylink=cpy

There is absolutely a similarity there in that neither would would be productive here. That similarity is shared with every other WR walking this planet.

As a matter of fact, Jerry Rice would see his career fizzle away with this QB and coaching staff.

IMO if we are going to get a WR it would be good to trade down at least a little bit because I only see 3 guys(Boyd, Thomas and Doctson)who have 1st round grades and neither of them should go top 8 and at my prediction we will pick at least in 4th.

A great thing of drafting wide receivers early in the draft is that in the last 3 drafts always one of the top 3 WR stepped up and is now one of the best receivers in the league(DeAndre Hopkins, Odel Beckham Jr. and Amari Cooper)

Originally posted by SunDevilNiner79:

They aren't even similar players!

To get some outside opinion, here is the Combine comments on Ellington: Is short and small-framed -- durability could be an issue. Could stand to become a more nuanced route runner. Can be outmuscled in a crowd -- not a go-up-and-get-it guy. Limited run strength. Underpowered blocker. Too often was a non-factor -- was held to one catch or less in five games as a junior. Was not a home-run hitter in the return game.

That's nothing like Pharoh who is 5'11 and about 210lbs and powerful runner, and a go-up-and-get-it is exactly him. Go look at those catches/highlights I posted.

Then look at their production.
Ellington in his last 2 years: 89 catches, 1375 yards, 15TDs. This was with Connor Show throwing to him who was pretty decent.

Cooper's last 2 years (current year still going obviously): 109 catches, 1700 yards, 13 TDs. And that is with 4 different QBs throwing to him, none of whom are nearly as good as Connor Shaw.


Are there similarities? Sure they both play on South Carolina and are used as a playmaker in a variety of roles. The similarities end there..


edit: Or look how SEC coaches view him. Ellington didn't make the All-SEC team in 2013. Meanwhile "Cooper was named as a first-team receiver, all-purpose player and return specialist.Read more here: http://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article32356374.html#storylink=cpy

Since when is Ellington small framed? He's short but 5'9 200 lbs is similar proportionally to 5'11 210 lbs. Ellington has had durability issues here but not so much in college. Just like Coopee he was raw in his case splitting time between football and basketball. Ellington's basketball ability let's him attack the ball and use his frame to shield from defenders. I don't know where you got that write up but the only reason he's not a go up and get it guy is due to his height not because he's weak or anything.

If you think 2 inches is worth drafting in the 2nd round then I guess we disagree there. I like Coopee but not early 2nd round pick worth over Ellington.

Originally posted by genus49:
Since when is Ellington small framed? He's short but 5'9 200 lbs is similar proportionally to 5'11 210 lbs. Ellington has had durability issues here but not so much in college. Just like Coopee he was raw in his case splitting time between football and basketball. Ellington's basketball ability let's him attack the ball and use his frame to shield from defenders. I don't know where you got that write up but the only reason he's not a go up and get it guy is due to his height not because he's weak or anything.

If you think 2 inches is worth drafting in the 2nd round then I guess we disagree there. I like Coopee but not early 2nd round pick worth over Ellington.

got it from nfl.com

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/bruce-ellington?id=2543646

And posting about him in this thread is nothing about where we could pick him, thats separate.

I think he is an exceptional player, much better than Ellington, and I do think he will go in the 2nd depending on how many juniors come out.

Its not about height, its about their ability to play. Cooper is way better player. Just look at the stats he has put up with an inferior QB.

Originally posted by SunDevilNiner79:
got it from nfl.com

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/bruce-ellington?id=2543646

And posting about him in this thread is nothing about where we could pick him, thats separate.

I think he is an exceptional player, much better than Ellington, and I do think he will go in the 2nd depending on how many juniors come out.

Its not about height, its about their ability to play. Cooper is way better player. Just look at the stats he has put up with an inferior QB.

I guess we disagree on the way better part. He may be better but imo it's a lot closer than you make it sound. Ellington's only issue has been health. When he's been playing he's been making plays. Until he proves he can't play at this level I don't see a need for a similar player

Originally posted by joaosoarrs99:
IMO if we are going to get a WR it would be good to trade down at least a little bit because I only see 3 guys(Boyd, Thomas and Doctson)who have 1st round grades and neither of them should go top 8 and at my prediction we will pick at least in 4th.

A great thing of drafting wide receivers early in the draft is that in the last 3 drafts always one of the top 3 WR stepped up and is now one of the best receivers in the league(DeAndre Hopkins, Odel Beckham Jr. and Amari Cooper)

no way we go WR in the first. So many more important holes that can be fixed with better players. If we grab a receiver it'll be in the 4 or fifth round.

Originally posted by genus49:

Originally posted by SunDevilNiner79:

got it from nfl.com

http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/bruce-ellington?id=2543646

And posting about him in this thread is nothing about where we could pick him, thats separate.

I think he is an exceptional player, much better than Ellington, and I do think he will go in the 2nd depending on how many juniors come out.

Its not about height, its about their ability to play. Cooper is way better player. Just look at the stats he has put up with an inferior QB.

I guess we disagree on the way better part. He may be better but imo it's a lot closer than you make it sound. Ellington's only issue has been health. When he's been playing he's been making plays. Until he proves he can't play at this level I don't see a need for a similar player

This. But he has another issue, playing time

Here's my top 7 of the Wide Recievers I like not necessarily the best 7 to some

1. Laquon Treadwell
2. Tyler Boyd
3. Will Fuller
4. Michael Thomas
5. Rashard Higgins
6. Travin Dural
7. Corey Coleman

Will Fuller I really think he is my sleeper and could turn out to be the one to watch

Originally posted by TopGun18:

Here's my top 7 of the Wide Recievers I like not necessarily the best 7 to some

1. Laquon Treadwell
2. Tyler Boyd
3. Will Fuller
4. Michael Thomas
5. Rashard Higgins
6. Travin Dural
7. Corey Coleman

Will Fuller I really think he is my sleeper and could turn out to be the one to watch

Josh Doctson?

Westerkamp kid I was talking about earlier:




He is having a good year, but as a Junior I'd expect him to stay another year

Treadwill end thread