Prospect Bio

Garrett Wilson has been torching defenders since his days at Lake Travis High School in Austin, Texas. As a junior, he had 98 receptions for 1,774 yards and 32 total touchdowns. Even with missing time in his senior season, Wilson still managed 1,151 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns. He was getting it done off the field as well, earning the All-American Bowl Man of the Year award for his community service work. Wilson, whose dad was a basketball star at Davidson College and spent a minute in the NBA, received Division I scholarship offers to play basketball. But football was the path he chose. As a five-star recruit, Wilson ranked as a top-20 player in the nation and the No.2 wide receiver, per 247Sports. He received more than 30 offers, including from Oklahoma, Alabama, Arkansas, Baylor, Notre Dame, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. He chose Ohio State which is near where he spent his early childhood. 

Wilson joined the Buckeyes as star receivers Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin were departing for the NFL. He finished his true freshman season with 30 receptions for 432 yards and five touchdowns. He started all eight games in 2020 and broke out with 723 yards and six touchdowns on 43 receptions. He received All-Big Ten honors for his performance. With a full slate of games on tap in 2021, Wilson continued to dominate even while playing alongside fellow first-round prospect Chris Olave. Wilson hauled in 70 balls for 1,058 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added another 76 yards and a score on four rush attempts. He finished the season on a tear with 27 catches for 371 yards and six touchdowns over his last three games before bowing out of the team’s bowl game to begin preparations for the NFL Draft. That wasn’t before earning second-team All-Big Ten and second-team Associated Press All-American honors.

Wilson departs for the NFL 10th on the school’s all-time list for receiving yards and seventh for receiving touchdowns. 

College Stats

Garrett Wilson College Stats Courtesy of sports-reference

Positives

+Speed; 4.38 40-time;

+Acceleration 

+Excellent after the catch

+Excellent ball skills

+Elite Body control

+Good hands

+Wins in contested catch situations

+35 career kick/punt returns

+6 career rush attempts 

+16 YPR

+6.4 receptions per game in 2021

+Productive alongside projected first-round WR Chris Olave

Negatives

-Struggles versus press coverage

-Thin frame

-Route running needs improvement 

-29.4% (50th-percentile) College Dominator (PlayerProfiler.com)

Highlight Reel

Comparable Player: DeSean Jackson

NFL Draft Projection: Top-20

Yards Per-Formance Grade: 69.9

Bottom Line:

If Garrett Wilson isn’t the first wide receiver to hear his name on draft night, he won’t be too far behind. He was highly productive at Ohio State even while playing alongside another WR1 candidate, Chris Olave. Wilson wins with speed, acceleration, and incredible body control. He can make the most difficult catches look routine. His route running will need to be refined and he will likely struggle vs physical cornerbacks at the NFL level. That aside, Wilson is excellent at creating yardage after the catch. Whoever drafts him will want to take advantage of that by dialing up manufactured touches like screens, drag routes, and jet sweeps. He projects as a Z-receiver who may also spend time in the slot. Wherever he lines up, defenses will have to key in on him in order to avoid falling victim to his big-play ability. In dynasty, he should be considered among the top-3 receivers in the 2022 class and a lock to come off the board in the top-6 picks of 1QB rookie drafts.

Post Draft Analysis:

Wilson was the second wide receiver off the board on draft night. He slides into what is now one of the more underrated wide receiving corps in the NFL. Wilson will likely play the Z position with Corey Davis at X and last year’s rookie breakout Elijah Moore working in the slot. Unfortunately, quarterback Zach Wilson doesn’t appear to be the type who can prop up multiple high-end fantasy producers, meaning Moore, Davis, and Garrett Wilson may all be boom-bust plays for as long as they’re together.

Resources: DLF, PlayerProfiler, PFN, PFF, TDN

Yards Per-Formance Prospect Grade