An inside look at WR Quenton Bundrage

When it comes to the New York Jets, they added a plethora of undrafted free agents with hopes of finding a diamond in the rough. Can wide receiver Quenton Bundrage make the final roster?

Most of the attention this time of year is focused on the top draft picks for the New York Jets. I’m stepping away once again to bring you a look at one of the many UDFA prospects the Jets brought in to compete for a roster spot this summer.

This particular focus will be on what Bundrage brings to the table. With the Jets waiting until the seventh round to draft a wide receiver in the form of Charone Peake, a perceived lack of depth at wide receiver, and an aging Brandon Marshall, the competition promises to be a hot one this summer.

Bundrage has size and a bit of speed that he will bring to the Jets’ offense. He’s listed as 6’2″ and 202 pounds by their official web page and reportedly ran a 4.46 at his Pro Day. By NFL standards, those stats make Bundrage an intriguing prospect as an undrafted free agent.

He started his college career at Iowa State University in 2011 as a redshirted freshman. In 2012, he saw minimal time on the field, only posting 20 receptions for 232 yards and two touchdowns for the season. His first two years were seen by Iowa State staff as learning seasons however and Bundrage was set to make some noise in 2013.

More from The Jet Press

Bundrage worked hard at his craft and didn’t disappoint his coaches.

For the season he posted 48 receptions for 676 yards and nine touchdowns.

To add to his accomplishments on the season, he averaged 11.6 yards per catch and set his college career long reception of 97 yards.

As a result of his stand out performance in 2013, NFL scouts began to take notice, and several could be found sitting in the stands taking notes on the young wide out.

Talk of Bundrage being draftable began to surface and expectations grew for his 2014 season.

During the offseason, Bundrage was excited by the attention he was getting by NFL scouts and set out on a training program of his own to improve on his breakout season. Unfortunately, he may have trained a bit too hard, because in the first game of the season, Bundrage went down with a torn ACL in his knee that caused him to miss the rest of the season. Not being a player to give up on a season, Bundrage remained with his team, coaching from the sidelines as he rehabbed his knee with team staff.

Returning in 2015 for his senior season, Bundrage had two goals in mind. First, he wanted to outdo his 2013 performance, and secondly he wanted to prove to scouts that his knee was not an issue. To his credit, he proved his knee was healthy by playing in every game for Iowa State in 2015.

Sep 19, 2015; Toledo, OH, USA; Iowa State Cyclones wide receiver Quenton Bundrage (9) runs the ball during the third quarter against the Toledo Rocketsat Glass Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

As for stats, Bundrage impressed but fell short of his goal of bettering his 2013 season marks. Still, he managed 41 receptions for 578 yards and 4 touchdowns. To this young players credit he also posted a 13.4 yard average per reception in 2015, just short of the 14.1 yard average in 2013.

Bundrage is an interesting prospect, his size, added with his speed, make him tough to bring down after the catch. He appears to have a good set of hands on film, and doesn’t shy from going up and fighting for the contested ball. His route tree appears adequate, but he’ll need to learn to use his speed and big body to gain separation at the pro level.

Bundrage has a long uphill battle this summer at the training facility of the Jets. He’ll need to stand out early in a crowded wide receiver competition. Like every undrafted rookie, he’ll need to bring his “A” game, prove he can pick up coaching at the NFL level and hope for a bit of luck.

A lot will depend on how many receivers the Jets decide to keep heading into the regular season, but Bundrage is one to keep an eye on this summer. If he can pick up the Jets’ offense and impress coaches, he may find himself a spot, even if it turns out to be on the practice squad.

More jets: Top 5 reasons New York Jets will succeed in 2016

That’s Bundrage in a nut shell. He’s already proven he can beat the odds as he’s working on his craft and has a lot character off the field. That’s my take, what’s yours? Please let us know and join the discussion below by leaving a comment. Let’s Talk Jet Football!!

When it comes to the New York Jets, they added a plethora of undrafted free agents with hopes of finding a diamond in the rough. Can wide receiver Quenton Bundrage make the final roster?

More from The Jet Press

Schedule