NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A day after breaking down Amari Cooper, it's fitting that we look at the other top receiver in the 2015 draft class.
West Virginia's Kevin White is an incredible story and may be the biggest riser of any prospect this year. White played two seasons in the JuCo ranks at Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa. In 2012, White caught 36 passes for 535 yards and six touchdowns at Lackawanna before transferring to West Virginia.
His junior season as a Mountaineer was good, not great. The numbers nearly mirrored his sophomore season in junior college – 35 receptions for 507 yards and five touchdowns.
White's senior season in 2014 was another story. His production skyrocketed to 109 receptions for 1,447 yards and 10 touchdowns, and White has been climbing draft boards ever since.
Alabama's Amari Cooper once seemed like a lock to be the first receiver taken in this year's draft. Now, it's a coin flip between draft analysts as to whether White or Cooper will go first.
Bleacher Report's NFL Draft Lead Writer Matt Miller has White going first, selected with the fourth pick by the Oakland Raiders. ESPN Draft Analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper have Cooper going in that spot. McShay and Kiper have White going 10th to the Rams and 11th to the Vikings, respectively.
Kevin White, WR (West Virginia)
Overview:
White's meteoric rise up draft ranks is unmatched by any player at any position in the 2015 draft class. Part of the reason for White's boost is because of his 6-foot-3 inch frame that makes him two inches taller than Cooper. His standout senior season featured nine 100-plus yard games, including a 13-catch, 216-yard performance against Maryland.
Sporting News named White a first team All-American following the season with the* AP* naming White a second team All-American. White was also named first team All-Big-Ten.
White received an offer to play in the Senior Bowl following the season, but declined. He will be a player to watch at next week's combine.
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Strengths: Looks the Part**
Miller: "I think with Kevin White the sky is the limit. He was only at West Virginia for two years and was a JuCo kid before that. West Virginia ran their offense through him this year so he was very productive. At 6-foot-3 and probably 215 pounds, he looks like a grown man and not a young kid.
"I think that Kevin White has separated himself from Amari Cooper. Upside is a lot of it and size is a lot of it, but I also think he has better hands. As people study Cooper, they see him dropping a lot of easy passes, especially over the middle. I think White is the more dependable receiver."
Needs to Show: Not a One-Hit Wonder
Miller: "I think he has to prove that he isn't a 'one-year wonder.' He has to prove that he can still be productive when the offense isn't being run through him. He has to show that he's good enough to do that on his own – that he can get separation and get production when he's not the focal point."
NFL Comparison: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Miller: "I compare him to DeAndre Hopkins, even though he's probably two inches taller. They play very similar – attacks the ball well, a big strong route-runner and can be aggressive, but is also very fluid."
The Titans know Hopkins very well. The Texans' second-year receiver caught nine passes for 238 yards and two scores at home against Tennessee in week 13.
