2023 WRs Being Under-Appreciated

The 2023 class is deep and talented in Indiana. The WRs we’re looking at today are ballers and are exciting prospects moving forward. We’re taking a look at what their fall may hold as they look forward to their collegiate careers. Terrence (TJ) McWilliams - North Central - WR - 6’1" 170lbs McWilliams is a fantastic athlete who shoots off the line with little, to no, wasted movement. He’s got a great top-end speed and can reach it rather fast. He’s shifty, twitchy, and is able to operate in tight spaces. North Central likes him around the slot because good things happen. He knows how to get open and then has the speed to rip off big runs after the catch. He’s got good vision when the ball is coming his way and he’s able to watch it all the way in even through traffic. If he’s going to take a hit, he’s going to hold onto the ball and bounce up after the play. His routes right now while aren’t bad, are still a work in progress. He’s got the hard cuts down and planting his foot to make a move, just needs to finish working on the minor nuances in the stems of his routes. His ball skills and ability to track the ball in difficult situations are what make him so intriguing. You won’t see McWilliams drop a ball either. I would like to see him add a bit of weight, but that’s likely to come over time and it isn’t an issue right now either. Good things happen when he touches the ball and that’s why he returns kicks, too. McWilliams is able to do a lot and as explosive as he is, he’s going to draw a ton of interest. I’m beyond excited to see where he ends up and what he’s able to do at the next level. Malachi Jackson - Pike - WR - 5’9" 160lbs Jackson is a deep threat who is able to take the top off defenses and make them stressed. The best part is he doesn’t have to go deep to stress out the defense. He gets off the line so quick that he’s able to be 10-yards downfield almost immediately. Defenses will start to bail and then there are times Jackson cuts it off, snaps his head, catches a ball underneath, and makes guys miss underneath. However, if he doesn’t cut it off and goes deep, when the ball comes his way, I’m betting on Jackson to bring down the ball. Jackson has good ball skills and will fight for the ball like his life depends on it. He may be on the shorter and lighter side right now, but it doesn’t hold back his game at all. If anything, it’s forced him to become more aggressive and physical which is a good thing in my opinion. Jackson’s route tree and blocking is a work in progress, but he has his role and knows what to do. I anticipate some development in college in those categories but if his school needs a deep threat, Jackson is likely to be the guy on day 1. He’s fast, has good ball skills, and knows what he does best. When he goes deep, defenses are holding their breath until the ball hits the ground or the play ends. Good things happen for your offense when going deep to Jackson. I’m excited to see what he can do this fall knowing defenses are worried about him. Jaylen Williams - Northrop - WR - 6’3" 172lbs Williams is a lengthy athlete who plays both ways for Northrop. He’s someone I got to see play live a few times this year and was able to get a better understanding of what he can do. Defensively, he’s their starting Safety and moves around. He can come downhill, make plays, and has the athleticism to react. Offensively, he understands how to use his frame to box out his guy when the ball is in the air. He’s got strong hands and won’t let the ball be ripped out of his hands. He’s got decent speed and is able to break some big runs and then make a few guys miss. While he doesn’t run the cleanest routes and is a touch light, the frame is there and he looks like someone who could easily bulk up his frame. He’s an issue in the RedZone and defenses have to double him to stop him from scoring. He’s able to go up, highpoint the ball, and bring it down while making it look easy. Williams is also a very willing blocker in the run game and understands if you don’t block, you won’t get the rock. There are times his hands can creep to the outside when blocking, but I love seeing him fight so hard during those blocks. Williams is only getting better and he’s naturally able to pick things up really quickly. Williams is someone who checks a lot of boxes and has the intangibles you look for. I’m excited to see where he ends up collegiately and what he can do. [player_tooltip player_id="107084" first="Jayden" last="Pinkston"] - Tindley - WR - 6’4" 180lbs Pinkston is a great athlete and is usually the most athletic guy on the field. While he is a star on the football team, he’s also a star on the basketball team and is just a playmaker. While I’m not sure which sport is his first love, he’s good enough to play both if he wants to. He’s got the speed to go deep and run right by everyone. He’s got the frame to go up and easily outjump his guy and bring down the ball. He will ’Moss’ a guy on the regular and move on to the next play. Down the field, he’s able to track the ball, jump, and fight through the contact. There’s typically a DPI when he goes up, but it’s only called half the time. Defenders have problems slowing him down and being more physical than he is. While his shorter routes can be a little choppy, there’s reason to be excited about where he can go. He’s someone who understands leverage and how to use it to his advantage at the line. He’s aggressive off the line and likes to have clean hands if possible. If the entire offense was chuck it deep to Pinkston, they’d have success. If he’s able to develop a little bit in the short route game, he’s going to become a menace for defenses. He’s got every tool you want in a guy and if he’s able to develop the way I hope, he’s going to be a legitimate X-WR at the next level.