Ricardo Louis, WR
School: Auburn | Conference: SEC
College Experience: Senior | Age: 22
Height / Weight: 6-2 / 215 lbs
pSPARQ: 129.0 / NFL Percentile: 87.8%
Projected Draft Status: 6th Round - Priority FA | Actual: 4th Round (114th overall) by the Cleveland Browns
NFL Comparison: Donte Moncrief
Link to Original Profile
College Statistics
Player Overview
Ricardo Louis is a Combine all-star who is best known for getting Auburn into the 2013 BCS Championship game with an amazing Hail Mary catch with seconds left to beat Georgia. He's a tall, muscular, well-proportioned athlete who looks like a #1 wide receiver on the hoof. In Auburn's pistol option offensive system, Louis saw limited snaps as a receiver and was asked to run an abbreviated route tree. He was also heavily used as a runner on jet sweeps where he accumulated 578 yards rushing for an 8.5 YPC average across his college career. With receivers Sammie Coates and Duke Williams off the team this year (drafted by the Steelers and dismissed, respectively), Louis more than doubled his previous career highs in catches and yards.
Louis is an explosive athlete who has a second gear to get deep; he is also able to elevate over smaller defensive backs and high point the ball. He has a fiery, competitive streak and gets pumped up after making big catches or absorbing blows over the middle. The main issue limiting his draft stock is his dearth of experience -- both in terms of playing time and in a pro system -- and inconsistency on tape in putting together all of his physical gifts. He's a developmental prospect that should go to an environment where he can sit and learn behind veterans for at least a year before getting meaningful snaps.
Recent News
ATTN @Browns fans:
— NFL (@NFL) May 21, 2016
Know who @GuttaManRick is?
You will soon if he makes grabs like THIS #RookiePremiere pic.twitter.com/3QRMzfGSC2
.@Browns rookie @GuttaManRick is giving his first NFL paycheck to his mom.
— NFL (@NFL) May 21, 2016
Yup, all of it. #RookiePremiere pic.twitter.com/mKIxIb97xQ
for those of you whop still dont know who Ricardo Louis is, watch this and you'll know. https://t.co/j4U01U17EY
— KrazyDawg99 (@Krazy_Dawg99) May 16, 2016
With the 114th pick the @Browns select Ricardo Louis, WR Auburn!! #GoBrowns
— Cleveland Sports Hub (@CleSportsHub) April 30, 2016
RT & Follow for a jersey giveaway!! pic.twitter.com/GFFe7X4c26
How He Makes The Browns Better and Creates Problems for the Redskins
The Browns used one of their many picks this year to take Ricardo Louis several rounds higher than where he was projected. I thought a 6th round pick would be a reasonable spot because he's very raw but offers great physical size and athletic ability. The Browns must have seen his upside as tantalizing in order to spend a mid-round pick on someone that needs considerable coaching. However he's an interesting addition to Cleveland's very young receiving corps along with Corey Coleman, Jordan Payton, and Rashard Higgins.
As a 4th-round pick it's very possible Louis sees the field in limited fashion this year, a la Jamison Crowder did for the Redskins in 2015. While his route running and understanding of the position is poor for NFL standards, Louis is a threat to get downfield on play action shots, do damage from the backfield on reverses, be a gadget on trick plays and could also be used in the return game. With Hue Jackson's play-calling and RG3's cannon of an arm, it's conceivable that Ricardo Louis or Corey Coleman burn our secondary for a long touchdown on a play action pass in Week 4. But I just don't see Louis being a consistent factor against our defense, and will need to work and study diligently to become a pro wide receiver over the next few years.