NFL draft profile: Devon Blackmon


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PROVO — BYU wide receiver Devon Blackmon had a solid 2015 season in his final one with the Cougars. The speedster is hoping to take his talents to the next level and play in the NFL.

Here is a look at some of his strengths and weaknesses in the latest BYU NFL draft profile.

STRENGTHS

Speed — It's fair to say that Blackmon was probably BYU's fastest wide receiver this season. According to NFLdraftscout.com, Blackmon has been timed in the 40 as quick as 4.38. That's NFL-caliber speed right there. The wide out from Fontana, California, displayed his speed throughout the 2015 season as he was the most consistent deep threat for the Cougars. As quick as he was, Blackmon was able to get separation from defenders — something that's highly prized by NFL scouts. If he manages to run a sub-4.4 second 40 at his Pro Day, Blackmon will attract the attention of a lot of teams.

Hands — While he was frequently able to create a sizeable distance between him and his defender, Blackmon also showed the ability to catch passes in traffic with defenders draped all over him. He can thank his strong hands for those grabs. Ironically, the play that probably best shows Blackmon's sure hands was one that was called back for offensive pass interference. Against Boise State, in the Cougs' second game of the season, Blackmon made an incredible one-handed catch off a dart from quarterback Tanner Mangum. On the play, Blackmon had to elevate to get the ball and plucked it from the air without bobbling it. Many Cougar faithful are still upset that the ref didn't hold his whistle while Blackmon and the defender were fighting for position. It would have been a touchdown grab for the speedy receiver and it would have been his only one during his career in Provo.

Devon Blackmon (19) runs against Nebraska in Lincoln, NE Sept. 6, 2015. BYU won 33-28. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)
Devon Blackmon (19) runs against Nebraska in Lincoln, NE Sept. 6, 2015. BYU won 33-28. (Photo: Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News)

Ability to return kicks — Prior to coming to the Y., Blackmon displayed terrific ability to be a factor on special teams while he was at Riverside City College. For RCC, he racked up 265 yards on kickoff returns, averaging an impressive 29.4 yards a pop. BYU occasionally allowed Blackmon to play on special teams during his two years in Provo. While he didn't do anything special, he did have a few nice returns. Against Virginia in 2014, Blackmon helped the Cougs get good field position via a nifty 25-yard punt return. In 2015, he returned a kickoff 29 yards against Connecticut. While these numbers don't jump off the page, the ability to contribute on special teams adds value to Blackmon's NFL stock, and has been a reliable place for many BYU alums in the pros. WEAKNESSES

Size — Blackmon is listed in the BYU football media guide at 6-foot and 187 pounds — which may even be a little generous. Even at the exaggerated weight, Blackmon would be a smaller receiver by the NFL's standards. While not a dealbreaker, there are some inherent prejudices against smaller wideouts. First, NFL teams worry about the durability of smaller players. Football, especially at the pro level, is a violent game where even the biggest and strongest guys get physically beaten up throughout the season. The worry with smaller guys is that their bodies won't be able to withstand the game-to-game punishment. Another concern about smaller wide receivers is that they won't be able to create separation against physical cornerbacks. Blackmon can point to his two injury-free seasons at the Y. as proof that he is durable but he will need to put up good bench-pressing numbers during his Pro Day to show that he is strong enough to muscle up against tough corners.

NFL Draft Profile

A relative lack of production — Blackmon was hardly a contributor during his junior season; he snagged only 10 passes in 2014 for a total of 130 yards. That lack of production made it so he didn't have the attention of NFL teams headed into his senior campaign. Blackmon was much more productive in his second year in Provo as he hauled in 46 passes for 669 yards. While those numbers are solid, they are far from jaw-dropping. Blackmon wasn't a dominant FBS player and had three or fewer catches in nine of 13 games for the Y. this season. It's safe to say that his production didn't generate much hype outside of Happy Valley and didn't have him on the radar of NFL teams. CONCLUSION

No mock NFL drafts that I've seen has Blackmon as a potential draft pick. This makes sense given that he was basically a non-factor during his junior season and had a solid, but not overwhelming, final campaign. Whether or not Blackmon catches the eye of an NFL scout may come down to his Pro Day. If he can run a sub-4.4 second 40-yard dash, he will get some attention. He will also need to prove that he is strong enough to get open against physical corners by putting up big numbers on his bench press. I can see Blackmon getting a chance to at least play on someone's practice squad due to his speed and ability to contribute on special teams.


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About the Author: Dylan Cannon ------------------------------

Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.

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