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2012 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina

Wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey of the South Carolina Gamecocks grabs a warmup pass against the Navy Midshipmen September 17, 2011 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina.  (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey of the South Carolina Gamecocks grabs a warmup pass against the Navy Midshipmen September 17, 2011 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
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There is a Big Blue View community member who keeps beating the drum for a certain wide receiver from South Carolina. So, today we acquiesce to said community member and finally get around to doing a 2012 NFL Draft Prospect Profile on Alshon Jeffery, a player some people love and some seem not to be so sure about.

Is Jeffrey talented enough to be taken at the bottom of the first round? If so, he could be a target for the New York Giants. If not, he likely won't last until their second-round selection. So, let's take a closer look.

From Wes Bunting of The National Football Post:

"A big wide out who lacks ideal top end speed and isn't a real explosive self-starter. He does display a little short area quickness for his size, however, not enough to consistently create legit separation off the line. ... looks like a more dynamic version of Seahawks wide out Mike Williams who will be limited in the routes he can run (fade, slant, post, corner) at the next level. But can still be successful as the "Z" receiver where he will be put in motion and used a lot in two man routes with the tight end running vertical and adjusting to the throw. However, he's never going to be overly productive due to his inability to separate consistently of his breaks."

CBS Sports gives Jeffery a second-round grade and says:

"Jeffery's size advantage has made him a virtually unstoppable force for the Gamecocks, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's the elite NFL prospect that his production and hype would lead you to believe. Despite annually producing draftable receivers while at South Carolina and Florida, remarkably few of Steve Spurrier's former pass-catchers have gone on to post similar success in the pros as they did in college. Will Jeffery be the next Ike Hilliard, Reidel Anthony, Jabar Gaffney, or Chad Jackson? Or will he buck the odds like Sidney Rice and Darrell Jackson?"

Pro Football Weekly says:

"Big, long-levered, intense receiver with the size and ball skills to win outside the numbers and in the red zone as well as box out smaller defensive backs between the hashes. Does not possess elite speed or leaping ability and could stand to refine his route running."

Alshon Jeffery Profile

Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 216
School: South Carolina
40 time: 4.55
2011 Stats: 49 receptions, 762 yards, 15.6 yards per catch, 8 touchdowns