Wide Receiver Johnny Wilson Struggles to Catch the Ball

Florida State University (FSU) receiver Johnny Wilson sure does look the part.

He’s got dominant size at 6-foot-7 and he just about everything really well.

Just about.

The one thing he has struggled with the most is the one thing he has to do, which is catching the ball.

2020: (ASU) 6 out of 13 (46% catch rate)

2021: (ASU) 12 out of 24 (50% catch rate)

2022: (FSU) 43 out of 80 (54% catch rate)

Add it all together and it comes out to 61 out of 117 targets for a 52% college career catch rate.

That’s about half. That’s a problem.

Don’t tell that to other draft platforms

As we are flipping our calendars on the wall to September, already several major draft platforms have gone big on Wilson. Walter Football, 247Sports, NBC Sports Chicago, Barstool Sports, Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, Draft Kings and The 33rd Team have all stamped Wilson with a first-round grade.

Sure there is value for a player like Wilson, but this comes down to being able to make plays and be dependable, and I’m sorry Wilson hasn’t proven to be dependable. He looks like two different players out there, half the time making incredible catches and half the time like he doesn’t belong out there.

That doesn’t move the meter.

Could it change this season?

The most encouraging sign with Wilson is that his catch rate percentage has steadily been increasing over the past three seasons.

I like Wilson, but I don’t love him and if I was a general manager, I wouldn’t bet my job on a guy who only catches about half of what’s thrown at him. If anything, the size advantage over smaller corners should be allowing him to absolutely dominate catching the ball, but that simply hasn’t happened.

What does Wilson do well?

In the interest of keeping this report balanced, a look at what Wilson did well in the five games studied from last season.

Lined up pre-snap he looks intimidating crouched over like a sprinter ready to race. He drives hard into routes and has surprisingly good athleticism for his length.

Wilson uses his size to his advantage easily often achieving route leverage. One of the things I like most about him is his aggressiveness and physicality against corners as he fights for positioning.

He’s a real handful to contend with.

Wilson gets after it as a blocker too and he’s competitive.

What’s the problem then?

I asked myself that a lot while watching his game film. In fact, that was my number one question, because it just does not add up.

For a minute, I thought maybe the issue was hard hands, but Wilson makes some beautiful grabs along the sideline at the intermediate route level when he plucks the ball out of the air, so I don’t think that’s it.

Granted, he does have some agility limitations given his natural size, which plays a role, but If I had to put money on it, it’s lapses of mental concentration.

#14 Johnny Wilson 6-foot-7, 237 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Summer 2023 Grade: Fourth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 27.4% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of September 2, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Game film reviewed (2022): LSU, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Louisville, and Wake Forest (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 receiving stats: 43 receptions (80 targets 54% catch rate), 897 yards (20.9 avg.), 5 TD, long-78 yards

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strong possession receiver with inconsistent hands who creates mismatches. Drives hard into routes and does a nice job getting in position. Big target with long arms and a good natural catch radius. Likes to bully corners. Willing to go to the turf to make the grab. Drops some of the easier catches. Average on contested catches and high-pointing the ball. Somewhat raw as a route runner who doesn’t always seem to be exactly in the anticipated spot for the quarterback. Tough runner who’s not easy to bring down after the catch. Tends to pick up additional yardage. Willing blocker who mixes it up. A heartbreaker loaded with potential. Until he proves dependable as a catcher, factors in as a No. 4 or 5 receiver on an NFL roster.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Catch rate?

2. Dropping easy ones?

3. Route running?

4. How does he look in the red zone?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, contributes at Yardbarker, and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.