2023 NFL Draft Player Profiles: Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry

From now until the 2023 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents Today, I’ll be profiling Wake Forest WR A.T. Perry.

#9 A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest (R-Senior) –6034, 198lb

Shrine Bowl/Combine Invite

Measurements

The Good

— Tall, long WR with the height and arm length to win jump-ball situations
— Has the speed to win as a vertical threat
— Will stack defenders vertically down the seam with deceptive acceleration
— Stems his routes well on vertical releases to get separation
— Can work through press coverage at the LOS when releasing vertically
— Able to alter his speed and tempo throughout his route to confuse DBs
— Can win contested-catch situations along the sideline or in the red zone
— Height and leaping ability allow him to play like a power forward above the rim
— Played primarily on the outside with some exposure in the slot
— Utilized on crossers over the middle of the field for YAC opportunities
— Can come back to the football on curls and comebacks
— Has some deceptive quickness after the catch for his length and size

The Bad

— Thin frame relative to his size causes him to lose out on contested catch opportunities
— Lacks strength to win 50/50 balls through DBs hands consistently
— Poor blocker when it comes to making blocks as well as showing desire
— Possesses more rolling speed than immediate burst off the line
— Can do a better job working back to the ball on deep shots when underthrown
— Can do a better job tracking the football as a deep threat, misjudging the distance at times
— Has a drop issue with 17 missed catches the last two seasons per PFF
— Doesn’t possess amazing balance and body control compared to other receivers
— Will opt to run out of bounds instead to fighting through contact
— Gets a fair number of offensive pass interference calls

Bio

— Redshirt Senior Prospect from Lake Worth, FL
— Born Oct. 26, 1999 (age 23)
— Mother, Chasity, ran track at Arizona State
— A three-star recruit out of high school
— Multi-sport athlete in high school being named all-county in basketball and won the county track long jump championship
— Played WR and DB in high school, team MVP and captain as a senior
— Redshirted as a true freshman in 2018
— Played in nine games in 2019 and had four receptions for 62 yards and a TD
— Appeared in six games in 2020 and caught 15 passes for 211 yards (14.1 YPR)
— Played and started in 14 games in 2021 and caught 71 passes for 1,293 yards (18.2 YPR) and 15 TDs
— Set the single-season record with 15 touchdown receptions in 2021 at Wake (five receptions of 50-plus yards)
— Played and started in 13 games in 2022 and had 81 receptions for 1,096 yards (13.5 YPR) and 11 TDs
— First Team All-ACC (2021)
— Majoring in Communications

Tape Breakdown

A.T. Perry was a multi-sport star in high school back in the state of Florida, starring on the gridiron as well as on the hardwood and the track. He decided to make his way up north for college to attend Wake Forest where he would cement his status in the Demon Deacon’s record books, setting the record for more TD receptions in single season back in 2021. When you watch the tape on Perry, you see why he is such a threat in the red zone as he stands over 6’3 with impressive arm length and leaping ability to go up and make catches in traffic. He had four TDs in one game last season against Syracuse, putting that height and athleticism on full display.

While Perry is a viable red zone threat, he has shown he can win vertically down the field too as a deep threat. He can win through press coverage at the LOS and can stack DBs vertically like we see here on this clip where Perry gets an inside release on the cornerback and splits him and the safety down the middle of the field for the long catch-and-run TD.

Perry isn’t the fastest athlete in terms on immediate speed on the snap of the ball, but he has deceptive long speed thanks to his long strides. He can provide some YAC opportunities like on this play against Clemson from last season, working back to the football to make the grab and evades two defenders to turn up field for a huge run-after-catch chunk play.

Here is another example against the Tigers where Perry gets an inside release against the CB and breaks open on the in-braking route past the LOS for the first down, making one defender miss and begins to turn up field before getting tackled from behind.

Perry can also operate as a chain mover over the middle of the field, catching slants and crossers like on this clip to move the sticks and attempt to pick up extra yardage after the catch.

While A.T. Perry is an accomplished deep threat at the college level, he does need to do a better job tracking the ball in the air. There are plenty of times where his misses the overthrown ball due to lack of judging its distance as well as not working back to the underthrown ball like on this play against Vanderbilt, resulting in missed opportunities for a catch or a PI call.

Perry also is pretty thin for his height and length, lacking the play strength to consistently win contested catches against smaller DBs in coverage. He also can struggle when needing to be physical like on this rep below against Clemson in the red zone, lining up at the bottom of your screen and getting decked by the defender on the block attempt.

When Perry does attempt to make a block, he is rarely ever effective at it. He shows little aggressiveness or desire as a blocker, often giving one shove while failing to lock on and engage to and through the whistle. Watch this block attempt Perry makes against Vandy, completely whiffing on the defender as he watches his man run right past him for the tackle.

Conclusion

Overall, A.T. Perry is a long receiver that has the skill and athleticism to win down the field as a deep threat. His height and leaping ability aid in his chances of winning jump ball situations while still being able to operate as a volume receiver underneath. He can be frustrating at times regarding his ability to track the deep ball and play physical, but his skill set does translate to the league as a WR 3/4 that can play outside or as a big slot, providing an offense with a longer passing game target.

When watching Perry, Josh Reynolds comes to mind as a similar style receiver who has near identical measurables (6’3, 196lb) on a long yet slender frame that works mainly as a deep/jump ball threat. He was drafted in the fourth round back in 2017 out of Texas A&M and has carved out a career as a capable receiver in a rotation that can stretch the field vertically while winning in the red zone and over the middle of the field.

I foresee Perry having a similar role in the league and getting drafted in a similar range as a guy that can rotate in in 3/4 WR packages as a guy that can separate down the seam or sideline while also giving an offense a bigger body. The Pittsburgh Steelers interviewed Perry informally at the Combine and could use another playmaker at WR. While they may look for a more proven slot option, Perry would provide some much needed height, length, and downfield playmaking to the passing game.

Projection: Day Three
Depot Draft Grade: 7.4 – Rotational Player (4th Round)
Games Watched: vs Clemson (2022), at Vanderbilt (2022), at Clemson (2021), vs Syracuse (2021)