Pro Day Performance Lifts Pitt WR Jared Wayne into NFL Draft
PITTSBURGH -- Jared Wayne was a well-kept secret all last fall and into the early stages of the NFL Draft process. After posting the 10th-most prolific receiving season by yards in Pitt Panthers history, Wayne did not see his draft profile improve and he remained an under-the-radar member of this wide receiver class.
Pro Football Network pegged him as the No. 372 overall prospect and 44th-best wide receiver available in this draft, Underdog Fantasy doesn't have him among their top 50 wideouts in the class and was not invited to the NFL Combine. Anyway you slice it, Wayne has been projected to enter the NFL as an undrafted player, if he makes it at all. But at Pitt's Pro Day, Wayne showed why he's deserving of higher consideration from NFL Scouts.
Ask Wayne and he'll tell you the film speaks for itself but, while his Pro Day doesn't paint the most complete picture of himself as a player, he was able to show off some of what makes him worthy of a pick in this year's draft.
He measured at 6'2 with a 79 5/8" wingspan and weighed in at 209 pounds. Wayne's 40-yard dash time topped out at 4.53 seconds - an impressive time for someone at his size. His 41.5" vertical leap also turned heads and earned loud cheers from the Pitt teammates that came out to watch him.
And if two seasons' worth of film in which he'd completed difficult catches and survived hits to run after the catch weren't enough for you, Wayne's long arms, strong hands and sharp footwork were on full display while he ran routes and hauled in passes from Nate Yarnell.
A deep reception along the sideline, during which he hauled in a high-arcing pass that sailed over his right shoulder and towards the sideline, demonstrated the attention to detail that makes up the foundation of Wayne's game. A fine toss from Yarnell fell right into his hands and Wayne managed to keep his toes in bounds while completing the reception before earning a handshake from the Steelers assistant coach helping run the drill.
No, he doesn't boast the top-end speed that makes so many receivers elite but Wayne has shown no problems with creating separation regularly and even when he can't, contested catches are no issue - his strength concentration make sure of that. The more scouts see Wayne on a football field, the more he gives them a reason to use a draft pick on him. On Pro Day, arguably Wayne's biggest pre-draft audition, he passed with flying colors.
You can't ignore Jared Wayne now and among a thin wide receiver class, he has a chance to rise from afterthought to difference maker. Every season, late-round receivers pop up on NFL rosters and become impact players right away. Wayne has the right combination of athletic ability and football smarts do that too - all he needs is a chance.
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