Antoine

Wesley

Wesley left the Red Raiders for the prospects for the NFL with a year of eligibility still left, but he went undrafted due to concerns about his speed and athleticism. Production certainly wasn’t a question, as he caught 88 passes for 1,410 yards and nine touchdowns. With 6-foot-5, 200-pound size, he’s a potential red-zone threat, but he’s going to have to show he can get open and put that size to use at the highest level.

Wesley’s (6'4/206) combined for 55 first downs and touchdowns, narrowly beating out Texas WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (54), Baylor WR Jalen Hurd and Oklahoma WR Marquise Brown. Wesley tested in the 37th percentile of athletic SPARQ composite scores at the NFL Scouting Combine. Despite having “high football IQ” according to an NFL wide receivers coach, it’s unlikely Wesley is more than a late-round selection as a big, slow pass-catcher.

The receivers coach praised Wesley’s football IQ and character, but we’d argue that running is important for football players, so this wasn’t a great evaluation. NFL Media’s Lance Zierlein mentions similar weaknesses, but he also calls Wesley’s hands “automatic” and talks up his size and leaping ability. Most lengthy and slow receivers have struggled in the NFL, so odds are stacked against Wesley but his character and football IQ increase those odds.

Texas Tech listed Wesley at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds for the 2018 season. Kelly writes that "[i]f he’s failed to add muscle during the pre-draft process, his strength concerns will become exponential.” Beyond the strength component of this equation, Wesley is one of a number of players who could greatly benefit from sharp runs in the 40-yard dash after the combine kicks off in Indianapolis next week. Kelly forwards ASU’s N’Keal Harry and Stanford’s JJ Arcega-Whiteside as two other wideouts in addition to Wesley who could benefit from faster-than-expected sprints.

That’s high praise from Mr. Zierlein and it’s easy to see those traits on film, but here are the issues with Wesley’s draft profile. He only has one year of production, and he’s very thin (6'5/200) for how tall he is. However, Wesley is still going to be drafted -- he’s on the Day 2/3 borderline -- and there’s a path to NFL upside. During his junior season, Wesley averaged 10.8 yards on his 131 targets (1,440 receiving yards) while hauling in nine touchdowns.

There are times when Wesley (6'5/200) looks like a high-end prospect, but it’s tough to gauge if he’ll be able to have success at the NFL with his slight build. Now, that wasn’t a problem against the Big 12 -- he posted an 88-1,410-9 receiving line in 2018 -- but we all know the talents of Big 12 defenses. If Wesley were to go in Round 5, he’d likely be competing for a spot on the 53-man roster.

Wesley put up monster numbers for the Red Raiders in 2019, catching 88 passes for 1,410 yards and nine scores. He’s also listed at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, so that size is sure to intrigue scouts. The questions will come from the production in the Air Raid system, but that’s no longer a prospect death sentence. A scouting report from The Draft Network also notes that he needs to show more lateral quickness, and his route-running can be inconsistent. In his tweet announcing his selection, he said he got positive reviews from the NFL Draft Advisory Board, so if Wesley tests well, he’ll have a chance to be among the first wideouts selected; possibly even a first-round target because of his size and production.

Ho hum. Wesley has now caught at least eight passes in four straight games, and five of six. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound reception machine also is up to nine touchdowns, and is well on his way to a 1,300 yard season. It comes in a losing effort, but Wesley once again showed why he’s considered among the most intriguing wideouts in the country. It won’t slow down next Saturday when the Red Raiders take on Kansas State.

Wesley (6'5/200) went over the 1,000 yard mark with another huge game. The junior receiver didn’t even get the privilege of a full Alan Bowman game either, but it didn’t slow him from his eclipsing 100 yards in three straight games. With 70 catches, 1,176 yards, and seven touchdowns, there are few receivers who can match his production. Wesley versus the Texas corners will be a fun matchup next week.

Once again, Wesley provided a reliable outlet for freshman QB Alan Bowman. It’s just that this time, Bowman didn’t get much more help than that. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound Wesley now has a 58-975-7 line through eight games in a true breakout campaign.