Despite A Disappointing Combine Lil’Jordan Humphrey Can Still Offer Value In The Slot For The Skins

Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR
School: Texas | Conference: BIG 12
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21?
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 210 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 5th or 6th Round
NFL Comparison: Austin Carr

College Statistics

Player Overview

Lil’Jordan Humphrey was a 3-star prospect from Southlake, Texas. Committing to the University of Texas was always the natural choice for Humphrey even though Wisconsin was making a push in his recruitment. He got to work immediately his freshman season and caught a couple passes as well as played on special teams. Humphrey contributed a bit more and had a real impact on offense in his sophomore season as he came in second on the team in receiving yards for the 2017 season. This past season he broke out and established himself as one of the more exciting receivers in the BIG 12 and an interesting draft prospect considering his ‘big slot’ ability and role in the Texas offense. He was honorable mention to the All-BIG 12 team this past season and showed that he could handle a heavy workload. Humphrey was the first player in school history since the early 1980’s to score at least one receiving, rushing, and passing touchdown in a single season. Humphrey had a disappointing Combine. He was the slowest receiver in Indianapolis and tested poorly in explosion drills but he is yet another good example of look having to go and look back at the tape he’s put together. Humphrey is better than his test numbers indicate and could carve out a productive role for himself in the slot in the NFL.

Strengths

• Good size, length, versatility, and physicality for the position.
• Understands space and knows how to find space in zone coverage. Uses frame, length, and hands to high point the ball and create late separation. Size and power he has makes him hard to bring down. Despite he poor 40 time he is a threat after the catch as a runner.
• Reliable as a pass catcher and can haul passes in from multiple catch points.
• Physical and competitive blocker.
• Special teams value.

Weaknesses

• Below average athleticism including speed, quickness, and burst. It will limit him in the NFL.
• Doesn’t get much separation in coverage and instead relies on his size to box out to create space rather than using his route running saavy. There is a time and place for physical dominance but Redskins fans know that it doesn’t work often in the NFL.
• Ran a simple route tree at Texas and will need to adjust to the variety of routes he’ll need to run in the NFL.
• Needs to work back to the QB when things break down.

Let’s see his work:

More Lil’Jordan Humphrey videos

How He Would Fit On The Redskins?

Humphrey is another late round option for the Redskins in their quest to bolster their receiving corps. As I mentioned in Preston Williams’ profile the Redskins seem to like these size, hands, physical guys at wide out late in the draft so I wouldn’t rule out interest in Humphrey as a late round option who could come in and challenge for work in the slot. What Humphrey does well is make contested catches using his body as a tool. He’s a threat in short to intermediate route and is also a threat when he works toward the boundary as he doesn’t concede space or let corners squeeze him. He’ll have to work on his consistency specifically his route running to stick on a team in light of his test numbers. One area he may be able to prove his value is as a returner on kick coverage. If he could someone maintain his 20+ yard return average in the NFL he will stick on an NFL team where he could continue to work to get reps on office. Before the Combine some were talking about Humphrey as a day 2 pick, now he is solidly in the day 3 conversation. As I mentioned before I think he is better than his numbers indicate and he has some great core skills to work with he may be a good value late for a team like the Redskins who need competition at all receiving spots.