We continue our "Meet the Prospect" series with a pass-catching prospect who possesses elite downfield speed. Get to know more about this "Golden Domer," Notre Dame wide receiver Will Fuller.
First Glance
Speed kills in the NFL ,and this Irish wide receiver has plenty of it. Besides being the fastest wideout and second-fastest prospect at this year's NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.32-second 40-yard dash, Fuller backed it up on the field with 30 touchdown catches in 32 career appearances. Fuller hauled in 62 receptions for 1,258 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns on his way to being named team MVP last season. Fuller was the focal point of the Irish's passing attack for two years. He surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in back-to-back seasons and helped Notre Dame win 18 games over that span.
Many NFL Draft experts initially evaluated Fuller, an underclassmen, with a second-round grade. But after he blazed an elite 40-time, Fuller could race his way into the first round of this year's draft. Several recent mock drafts have the Irish wideout creeping his way into the 20s.
Measurables
Height: 6-0
Weight: 186
Arm length: 30 3/4 inches
Hand Size: 8 1/4 inches**
NFL.com Pro Comparison**
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr.
Best College Game
Nov. 7, 2015, Fuller caught seven passes for 152 yards and three scores in a 42-30 victory over Pittsburgh. It was the wideout's lone three-score game. Fuller produced five multiple-touchdown performances in school, but the road victory over Pitt stands as his best statistical outing.
Combine Statistics
40-yard dash: 4.32 seconds (first among WRs)
Bench press: 10 reps
Vertical jump: 33.5 inches
Broad jump: 126.0 inches
3 cone drill: 6.93 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.27 secondsMock Draft Connections
NFL Media's Bucky Brooks – No. 22 overall pick (Houston Texans)
CBS Sports' Will Brinson – No. 23 overall pick (Minnesota Vikings)
NFL Media's Charley Casserly – No. 24 overall pick (Cincinnati Bengals)
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What the Media is Saying…**
"Big time, vertical daddy. Had just over 27 percent of his catches go for 25-plus yards this year. Uses short, controlled strides into his routes for maximum balance and suddenness underneath. Will change routes speed to rock corners to sleep before climbing past them. Works to establish early leverage points against man coverage. Has elite acceleration to create easy separation vertically." – NFL Media's Lance Zierlein
"The difference between fast guys and Fuller is that he plays at his 4.32 speed every time he sets foot on the field. At Notre Dame, he flew past college corners regularly and was one of the most dangerous threats Irish eyes have ever seen. In 2014, Fuller caught 76 passes for just under 1,100 yards, averaging 14.4 yards per catch. He was a screen, catch-and-run threat like no one else in the college game.." – John Harris of *The Washington Post *
Fun Fact
Fuller has a chance to put himself in elite company in school history. Notre Dame has has 354 players drafted since 1936, with 20 being wide receivers. Only four Irish wideouts have been first-round picks. Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd, the 13th overall pick in 2012, was the last Notre Dame pass-catcher to have his name called in the first round. Fuller has a chance to join Floyd and Oakland Raiders Hall of Famer Tim Brown as a first-round picks.
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