Staton jumped on my radar over a year ago, and it seems like a matter of time before he morphs into a hot commodity on the recruiting trail. He is a long, lean player who looks even bigger. He is a forward-leaning, driving player off the line who cuts through cushion and quickly occupies space. He flashes good footwork and can slow himself down at the top of his routes, so there is more than just one speed here. He will have to share the workload with other high-profile receiver prospects, but he is a good player in his own right and deserves recognition.

Even on limited snaps Staton flashed high-level playmaking ability and the qualities of a number one option. While routinely winning at the line of scrimmage his advanced level footwork at the line of scrimmage created instant separation. His twitchy burst made it difficult for corners to get solid jams on him. He repeatedly generates space early in routes.

What stood out most was the control in his movement. Staton stayed fluid and balanced coming out of breaks while showing awareness near the sideline and strong hands through contact. Even contested opportunities looked manageable because of his concentration and body control.

There’s clear WR1 upside in his profile. Between the releases, route fluidity, and finishing ability, Staton looked like one of the higher-ceiling receivers in his class.

Octavius Staton Jr (OJ) is a talented WR from Central we think has a big season ahead next fall.

“At 6’0 170, Staton already has the size and speed to dominate out wide. He’s quick on his feet, runs great routes, and can attack multiple levels of the field. On top of that, he has a great set of hands and consistently makes impressive catches through coverage and contact.

It really shows up in the red zone- he’s terrific in contested situations and frequently high points the ball over the tops of defenders for some highlight reel grabs. I’m equally impressed with how quickly Staton generates separation at his size. He has some nasty releases and routes he can burn DBs and get wide open off of. I think he’s in for a big junior season this fall.“

Staton has been on our list since his freshman season, but I think we’re going to see a whole different version of him this fall. He’s had a bunch of shining moments through his first two years, but should be stepping into an increased workload this upcoming fall, and with his skills, he’s going to be hard to miss. I’m excited to see, but until then, watch some of his film below:

Octavius Staton Jr plays the game with confidence and edge. He’s a physical receiver who isn’t afraid to work the middle of the field and take contact. His release package off the line shows flashes of creativity, allowing him to defeat press coverage early in routes. Staton tracks the deep ball naturally and doesn’t lose speed when locating it over his shoulder. With the ball in his hands, he runs through arm tackles and fights for additional yards. His competitive motor is what truly stands out, he plays every snap like it matters.

Octavius Staton Jr. Octavius Staton Jr. 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Central | 2028 State AL is a highly talented WR out of Central who’s now our #6 WR and #46 overall prospect in the state.

“At 6’0 170, Staton already has the size and speed to dominate out wide. He’s quick on his feet, runs great routes, and can attack multiple levels of the field. On top of that, he has a great set of hands and consistently makes impressive catches through coverage and contact.

It really shows up in the red zone- he’s terrific in contested situations and frequently high points the ball over the tops of defenders for some highlight reel grabs. With the talent he’s already shown, Staton will absolutely be a player to watch for the next few years.“

Take a look at some of Staton’s tape below, you’ll come away impressed:

Octavius Staton Jr is an up-and-coming 2028 WR out of Central everyone should have eyes on going into this fall.

At 6’0 170, Staton already has the size and speed to dominate out wide. He’s quick on his feet, runs great routes, and can attack multiple levels of the field. On top of that, he has a great set of hands and consistently makes impressive catches through coverage and contact.

It really shows up in the red zone- he’s terrific in contested situations and frequently high points the ball over the tops of defenders for some highlight reel grabs. With the talent he’s already shown, Staton will absolutely be a player to watch for the next few years.

Staton has some great freshman film you can watch below: