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LSU Football 2014 NFL Draft Profiles: Odell Beckham Jr.

Profiling and evaluating the LSU prospects headed to the 2014 NFL Draft.

Stacy Revere

Odell Beckham Jr.

Position: Receiver
Combine Height/Weight: 5-11, 198 pounds
LSU Listed Height/Weight: 6-0, 193
Hand Size: 10 inches
Arm Length: 32 3/4 inches
40-Yard Dash Time: 4.43
Bench-Press Reps (of 225 pounds): 7
Vertical Jump: 38.5 inches
Short/Long Shuttle: 3.94/10.93
3-Cone Drill: 6.69
Broad Jump: 122 inches

Strengths

Explosive, speedy playmaker...long arms and very big, strong hands for his frame, cradles the ball away from his body and pulls it in...uses hands, arms and feet very well to get off the jam and get down the field...great leaping ability, and high-points the ball over defenders very well...very polished and dedicated as a route runner, drops his hips and makes sharp cuts...accelerates well from a stop...experienced on special teams and returned both kicks and punts...uses the stiff arm well on the run...confident player with a professional mindset and approach to the game.

Weaknesses

Lacks ideal height...struggles with concentration at times, leading to drops...will also occasionally press for the big play and compound mistakes, leading to drops or some poor decisions on fielding punts...more of a yards-after-catch threat than a true speed receiver -- doesn't separate from corners down the field as well as you'd think for a player with his speed and elusiveness.

Verdict

Much like his teammate Jarvis Landry, Beckham is incredibly polished as a receiver, and should adapt to the pro game very quickly. He'll probably be best as a complimentary target that can focus on the things he does well, similar to players like DeSean Jackson, Mike Wallace or Santonio Holmes. But he has the hands and length of a much taller player and that will serve him well against bigger pro corners, especially in the redzone. His skills as a return man provide another asset, and he'll be one of several in a class of very talented receivers off the board somewhere near the middle of the first round.