2016 NFL Draft Profile: WR Will Fuller
By Jason Rodriguez
In this 2016 NFL Draft profile, we look at the strengths and weaknesses of wide receiver Will Fuller out of Notre Dame.
Fuller could be a huge steal in the draft if any team is able to grab him if he still on the board when they’re on the clock. Fuller has many abilities in what a wide receiver should be heading into the NFL coming out of college. The interesting thing about him is he is able to play like he is a tall receiver but he’s not that big as he’s only 6’0.
This season for the Fighting Irish, his stats were impressive with 62 receptions, 1,258 in total yards, 20.3 average per catch and 14 touchdowns. What is also interesting when watching highlights of his collegiate career is he is able to read defensive coverage well, and he is very smart in adjusting the routes to allow himself to catch passes.
STRENGTHS
Fuller is a very explosive player that many teams are in need of with his speed and ability to be able to break away from tackles. His abilities to create space are tremendous and cause opposing teams to have trouble keeping him in front of them.
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What is also special about him is the competitiveness as he leaves it all on the field. It shows that he is a true leader in encouraging teammates to keep working hard to leave a game victorious. He also is able to control his body as well as he high points the ball to avoid anything bad from happening.
Fuller also never slows down as he is always going full speed no matter what the score is. No matter how many people are covering him, he will go up and fight for the ball which speaks highly of him making sure to do whatever it takes to win.
WEAKNESSES
There are some weaknesses he needs to work on before he hits the NFL. Many scouts say he needs to add on some weight because he is very lean which can be a bad thing when facing physical defenders. Fuller also has big problems when teams play press coverage as he can’t really break loose like he would want to. He needs to work on not dropping easy passes as at Notre Dame he had a tendency of doing that which were costly.
Instead of catching with his body, he needs to learn how to catch with his hands and bring the ball in quicker to secure it before a defender tries to strip it away. The one other problem that could be an issue is his height as he might have some trouble making touch receptions in the end-zone.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
DRAFT DAY PREDICTION
Fuller was considered to be a late first-round or early second-round draft pick but after his impressive performance at the 2016 NFL Combine, he is projected mid first round pick. He is a type of player that can be a game changer but he has some things to work on.
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For those who are physical corners, Fuller will easily get pumped off his route which is why he needs to put on more weight so this doesn’t happen. Fuller could also be used as a kick or punt returner for the speed and agility he brings to the table. The team that is able to draft Fuller will have a player that is very special and that could be someone to build around for many years to come as he transitions into the pros.