Receiver prospects who could raise their stock at…

A receiver who has shown up on a few big boards, but who can certainly raise his stock this week is Cincinnati’s Alec Pierce. He has great speed for his size. He stands at 6-foot-3, and we could possibly see him run a sub-4.5 in the 40-yard dash.

Pierce performs his best when it comes to his release and contested catches.

In the clip above, we see the defender lined up in a soft press and Pierce sneaks right by him without being touched.

In the clip below, we have Pierce going up for a contested catch where he shows great separation at the top of his route.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any drills at the combine where he can advertise these specific skillsets. The 3-cone drill may show some of his footwork that he exhibits during his release; but when Pierce gets to the receiver drills, that is where he can separate himself.

The receiver gauntlet is where receivers run from one sideline to the other, catching passes in stride. This is where scouts can see a prospects raw catching ability. In the next two clips, we see examples where his hands allow him to make a smooth catch, which makes all the difference.

In the clip below, Pierce is thrown a ball that is behind him, yet he is able to adjust and make a clean catch while still gaining a few yards after contact.

Pierce is just a natural catcher. In the clip below, he is running an out-route. Before Pierce even makes his break, the quarterback lets go of the ball leaving Pierce only a split second to locate and make the catch. He makes it look easy.

Pierce may have an opportunity to reach the top ten of all receivers after this week.