Ryan Broyles Player Profile

This is the second player profile for the 2012 NFL Draft. I profiled Andrew Luck earlier in the week. Today, I will look at Ryan Broyles, WR, Oklahoma

Ryan Broyles

5'11, 187 pounds | Wide receiver | Oklahoma

NFL Player Comparison

Wes Welker: Broyles compares to Welker in the size and build but Broyles appears to have more top-end speed than Welker.

Ryan Broyles has been an effective WR for his entire 3 year career at Oklahoma. As a freshman he set an OU freshman record for receiving yards and tied for the most catches. He began his career with a bang with a 7 reception, 141 yard performance in his first game. 2009 was when he began to breakout on the national scene. He was named to the All Big-12 first team as a punt returner, was All Big-12 second team as a WR and set an OU record with 89 receptions and tied the TD mark with 15. His total yardage of 1,120 is 3rd all time at OU and his 1776 all purpose yards is 9th at OU. He was the MVP of the Sun Bowl with 13 catches for a career high 156 yards and 3 TD's. He probably should have been First Team All-Big 12. Last year as a Junior, Broyles continued his dominating career at OU. He was a Consensus All-American, a Biletnikoff Award finalist, a Consensus All-Big 12, No. 2 in the NCAA receptions, No. 4 in receiving yards, and set nine OU records in 2010. Those were: receptions in a game (15 vs. Iowa State), season receptions (131), career receptions (266 and counting), receiving yards in a game (208 vs. Colorado, season receiving yards (1,622), career receiving yards (3,429), season TD receptions (15), season 100 yard games and career 100 yard games, and one reception or more in 38 consecutive games. It is safe to say that Broyles is one of the greatest college WR's in the last 10 years... and he still has one more season.

Projected Draft Status: 1st to 2nd round

Despite all this production, NFL scouts might over-value his lack of height and weight and consider him only a slot. However, if somebody thinks he can be more than that he should go in the 1st round.

Other Potential 1st Round WR's:

Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina)... Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State)... Michael Floyd (Notre Dame)... Mohammed Sanu (Rutgers)... Jeff Fuller (Texas A&M)

• Jeffery and Blackmon should both be top 10 to 15 picks with good seasons. Floyd has top 5 talent but character concerns could cause him to fall possibly out of the 1st round all together. Sanu and Fuller are both borderline 1st rounders that need strong seasons to cement their spots.
  

Career Stats:

266 receptions, 3,429 yards, 12.9 ypc, 35 TD's, 998 PR yards, 113 KR yards

Character Concerns:

• Broyles was arrested 3 years ago for stealing gas from a convenience store. By all accounts, Broyles does not actually have any character concerns as this is the only incident I have found on him.
  

Video Highlights:

Highlight #1: Ryan Broyles vs. Colorado (2010) - This was perhaps Broyles best game ever. He set a school record for receiving yards in a game.

Highlight #2: 2010 Highlight film - Just a compilation of incredible moments by Broyles in the 2010 season.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Ryan Broyles Prospect Notes

Final Thoughts:

• Out of all the WR's in the 2012 class, none of them have equaled Broyles production. He has been flat out one of the best college football players on the offensive side of the ball the last two seasons. Yes, he has benefited from great QB play (Bradford and Jones) but you can't deny his output
• Broyles best fit in a NFL system would be as a slot receiver. His ability to get open on under-neath routes, make people miss, and his great hands would make him lethal running the crossing routes over the middle of the field. He is willing to give his body up to gain the extra yard.
• The "character concerns" that NFL scouts will talk about over the next 12 months are way over-blown. In his Freshman year of college he tried to take a gallon of gas from a convenience store. Since than, he has been involved in charity work and has had no other blemishes.