2011 NFL Draft Player Profile | Austin Pettis 

Pettis can be a reliable possession receiver as a pro.

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Boise St. Broncos. You know, the mid-major program that has lost just five games since 2007.

Austin Pettis, a relatively unheralded three-star wide receiver recruit out of Anaheim, California, in 2007, was a major factor in the Broncos’ success.

He finished his four-year collegiate career with a grand total of 229 catches for 2,838 yards and 41 touchdowns.

Player Name: Austin Pettis

Position: Wide Receiver

School: Boise State

Height: 6’3

Weight: 209

Hand: 9 3/4

Strengths:

Pettis has solid size for an NFL wide receiver at 6’3″, and is extremely reliable as a pass catcher. He has great hands, and has the ability to make catches in heavy traffic. He has decent speed for a player his size, and can work effectively against press coverage. He’s not afraid to go over the middle, where he does most of his damage. Pettis has very good body control, and is a very effective tracking the ball in the air. His size, hands and football IQ make him especially dangerous inside the red zone, as evidenced by his 41 touchdowns at Boise State. Pettis knows how to use his frame in a jump ball situation. He was able to develop a reputation as a strong leader for the Broncos, and is passionate about the game. Durability isn’t a question, as he suffered just one injury in college (a fractured leg in 2009), from which he was able to make a quick recovery.

Weaknesses:

Pettis doesn’t have extraordinary speed, and, as a result, isn’t much of a big play threat at the next level. He’s a nice possession receiver, but doesn’t have the elusiveness required to make many tacklers miss. He lacks much lateral quickness, and could certainly stand to improve his route running, which is fairly sloppy at times. He likely won’t be outrunning many cornerbacks in the NFL, and will need to rely on his size and physical tools in order to be effective as a playmaker. Because he played in the WAC, there are questions about the quality of his competition throughout the years. He’ll probably be a role player as a pro, rather than a game-changing superstar.

Draft Range:

Pettis isn’t as highly touted as teammate Titus Young, but he can help his draft stock with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl. His rare combination of size and good hands will be intriguing to NFL scouts, and that will improve his chances of being taken fairly early on. Because he doesn’t do much to stand out above the rest of the receiving prospects, he seems like a player likely to be taken anywhere from the late second round to the fourth round of the draft.

NFL Player Comparison: Kevin Walter

About the author: Taylor Smith

Taylor Smith has been with NFL Soup since its inception, and is a jack of all trades, helping with breaking news, fantasy football advice and NFL Draft coverage. Smith also heads NFL Soup's live chats and radio shows. Taylor also contributes content to our sister sites, MLB Soup, NBA Soup and NBA Water Cooler. He lives in Los Angeles, where he also is a writer for the L.A. Clippers. Follow him on Twitter @NFLSoupTaylor.