2014 Draft

2014 NFL Draft Player Scouting Report – Nebraska WR Quincy Enunwa

By Alex Kozora

Posted on April 28, 2014 at 8:21 am

By Alex Kozora

Our focus has shifted to the offseason and for the next few months, I’ll be providing scouting reports on several draft prospects. Some of these players the Pittsburgh Steelers may look at and others will be top players that will be off the board before they select. All to make you as prepared as possible for the 2014 NFL Draft.

Breakdown of a wide receiver that has recently drawn buzz among the Steelers’ draftnik community. Nebraska’s Quincy Enunwa.

Quincy Enunwa/WR Nebraska: 6’2 225

The Good

– NFL-looking frame with good bulk

– Good arm length (32 5/8) and impressive triangle numbers (4.45 at Combine)

– Excellent body control and adjusts to the flight of the ball well

– Can make difficult grabs

– Shows soft hands and plucks ball away from his body, increasing catch radius

– Tough and willing to take a hit to make a catch

– Capable of getting separation on underneath routes, not very stiff and shows quick feet

– Takes a ton of pride in run blocking and extremely competent in that area

– Leaper who can high point the football

– Size can make it difficult for him to be brought down, can bounce off hits from DBs

– Versatile, played outside and in the slot

– Decorated career that showed character and leadership

– Successful senior season despite quarterback rotation

The Bad

– Will lose focus and drop some easy passes

– Questionable deep speed, 4.45 player might not be showing up on tape

– Not very elusive after the catch, won’t make many miss

– Won’t always play up to ability

– Only one season of top production and even then, numbers weren’t monstrous

Other

– 34 career starts

– 2013: 51 catches, 753 yards 12 TDs

– Previous three years: 64 catches, 773 yards, 3 TDs

– One of four Nebraska captains in 2013

– Offensive MVP as a senior and won bowl game’s MVP, catching four passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns

– Member of school’s 2013 Brooks Berringer Citizenship Team for active work within the community

– Successful high jumper in high school

– Last name pronounced, “uh-NOON-wuh”

Tape Breakdown

Although inconsistent and at times, frustrating, Enunwa displays impressive body control and can adjust to poorly thrown passes. Which comes in handy when you’re playing with three different starting quarterbacks in one season as he did in 2013.

In both of the above clips, he’s adjusting to a poorly placed ball. Out route that is thrown behind and a throw he has to scoop off the ground.

Big frame lets him absorb blows from safety. Tough, doesn’t show alligator arms, and competes for the ball, even in traffic.

Screenshot of one grab he made in between defenders.

Shows a good vertical and will high point the ball. Didn’t ultimately make this catch but that wasn’t for a lack of effort.

What will endear him most to Steelers’ fans though is his blocking. Talking Hines Ward level of blocking. It’s basically a prerequisite for any receiver on a team that has run the ball nearly 1250 times the last two years.

Just search “Quincy Enunwa hit” and play the first three clips. The first comes from his sophomore year, laying out a Fresno State defensive back on an interception return. Forces a fumble and Nebraska gets the ball back. The second is smacking UCLA Datone Jones, a player with a good 60 pounds on the wide receiver. The final is a crackback block on a Washington safety, laying him out and shaking him up.

Isn’t just a big hitter either. Excellent stalk blocker who takes pride in run blocking. Experience too given Nebraska’s run-heavy offense.

All things considered, he had an impressive senior campaign. Played with three different quarterbacks who attempted at least 100 passes in 2013. All three started at least one game. Made the best of a sub-par situation.

Even though he does have soft hands, he’ll frustrate you by dropping too many easy passes. Tends to lose focus and may be thinking more about getting upfield than securing the catch. A lot of his drops occurred on third down, making them even more painful.

Don’t see any defining explosiveness from him after the catch. Didn’t make many miss in the open field. Only times defenders bounced off of him were due to Enunwa’s size rather than elusiveness.

Still, it’s hard not to like him. Really fits in well to the Steelers’ mold. Even as a rookie, his blocking ability and approach to that aspect will be infectious. It’s unlikely he’ll ever be a deep threat, #1 type of receiver, but his ceiling could be as a “Z” who will serve as a great blocker and reliable receiver.

At his current value, late Day Three, I’ll take that chance.

Projection: Late 6th-7th

Games Watched: vs Illinois, vs Northwestern, at Michigan, at Penn St, vs Georgia (Bowl)