Rookie Profile - Week 7

  Posted 10/20 by Jeff Tefertiller, Exclusive for Footballguys.com

Player: Jeremy Maclin

College: Missouri

Drafted: 1st round, 19th overall

College Stats

College Highlights

College Career

After playing football at Kirkwood (MO) High School he played as a redshirt sophomore wide receiver, punt and kick return specialist for the Missouri Tigers in 2007 and 2008. He holds the NCAA freshman record for most all-purpose yards in a single season. The yardage in four categories were made in: 307 punt returning, 375 rushing, 1,039 kickoff returning, and 1,055 receiving for a total of 2,776 yards; an average of 198.3 yards per game in his 14 games.

2007 Season

Maclin was named as a Consensus First-team All-American by the Associated Press as a wide receiver and as an All-purpose player. Maclin, paired with Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Daniel led the Missouri Tigers to a 12-2 record and victory in the 2008 Cotton Bowl. Maclin also gained All-America selections on various other teams as a kick returner. He finished his All-American season with 80 receptions and 16 touchdowns.

2008 Season

Maclin began his second season with the Tigers (2008) with high expectations and possible consideration for the Heisman Trophy. In the Tigers' season-opener against the Illinois Fighting Illini, he returned a kickoff for a touchdown but left the game with an ankle injury. He had 4 receptions for 31 yards and no touchdowns. The next game, against Southeast Missouri State, Maclin caught only 2 passes for 20 yards and a touchdown. Maclin was also involved in a trick play, however, in which quarterback Chase Daniel lined up at wide receiver and Maclin lined up at quarterback. Maclin threw a lateral to Daniel, who threw down field for a touchdown. Maclin recorded 6 receptions for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns against Nevada.

He led all of major-college football in all-purpose yards per game with 202.36 (2,833 yds. in 14 G), over 15 yards more than second-place Jahvid Best (187.25) of California. He had 1,260 receiving, 1,010 kickoff return, 293 rushing, and 270 punt returns yardage for 2,833 all-purpose yards.

He was named to the Associated Press All-American as a wide receiver, and he was once again named to the First-team as the All-purpose player. Maclin was a unanimous pick in 2007 for the same position as a freshman.

Predraft Measurables

From wikipedia.org.

2009 Production To Date

Jeremy Maclin was able to be productive with Kevin Curtis out of the lineup. Most of the season statistical production came in week five. The rookie was able to abuse the Tampa Bay Buccaneer defense that week for 142 yards of his season total of 193. For the year, Maclin has grabbed 13 of his 23 pass targets for the 193 yards and the two scores against the Buccaneers.

Best Game To Date

The week game five will stand out in the memory of Maclin for a long time. After having a few games where he was barely involved in the offense, the rookie from Missouri lit up Tampa Bay for a monster game by anyone's standards. The Buccaneers were double-teaming DeSean Jackson, making the first-year receiver beat them. Boy, did he ever. He caught six of his eight pass targets for 142 yards and two touchdowns. The scoring grabs were from fifty and forty yards away. Maclin was able to get behind the defense and quarterback Donovan McNabb found him.

Situation In 2009

Maclin is starting to emerge as the WR2 in Philadelphia. The injury problems with Kevin Curtis has only expedited the situation. With Curtis now back, he and Maclin will split time until Maclin secures the job. For this reason, Maclin will be inconsistent on a week to week basis. DeSean Jackson is still the primary receiver for the Eagles. He will garner double teams some weeks, opening the way for Maclin to have some big games like in week five.

Long-term Situation

Maclin will be the long-term starter for the Eagles. He and Jackson make a great one-two punch for McNabb. Now that Kevin Kolb has proven to be more than capable, Philadelphia has immense confidence in the future of the passing game. Maclin is a playmaker. He is able to make big plays down the field. Maclin is well known as a returner and is illusive in the open field, but is still learning the intricacies of the wide receiver position after playing in the spread offense at Missouri.

Potential Upside

The sky is the limit for Maclin. He plays in a wide-open Eagle offense that looks for the big plays. Maclin may be a better NFL player than in the world of fantasy football. He is very good in the return game and is becoming a better receiver. Maclin's fantasy upside is probably in the WR15-20 range with Jackson in Philadelphia. As the offense matures, the coaching staff will find ways to get Maclin, and his 4.4 speed, the ball in space. He is a true big play receiver that is a threat to take the ball the distance at any moment.

College Profile from NFL.com

Positives: Tight-skinned athlete. Good overall musculature. Explosive straight-line speed and quickness out of his breaks. Agile. Can make defenders miss in tight quarters. Natural playmaker who is a threat to score - from any distance - on every snap. Versatile athlete who can make plays in the running, receiving or return games. Natural pass catcher. Good body control to contort in space and make the spectacular reception. High-points passes and is an explosive leaper. High effort player. Courageous over the middle. Blocks downfield. Showed mental toughness in returning after a horrific knee injury in 2006.

Negatives: Still developing as a route-runner. Relies on his athletic ability at this point, and doesn't explode out of his cuts as well as he could. Will takes his eyes off the ball, on occasion, to prepare to make the defender miss, and drop the ball. Production inflated due to his role and the presence of other playmakers in this offense.

Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.

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