20/20: Michael Gallup

Richard Jenkins Posted On February 18, 2018

Welcome to the 20/20 series. As part of our continued Dynasty Scouts coverage and in preparation for the NFL Combine, we will be profiling 20 of the top incoming rookies of the class of 2018 by giving you 20 facts you must know.

1.) Player Name – Michael Gallup

2.) College – Butler Community College (2014-2015), Colorado State (2016-2017)

3.) Height/Weight – 6’1”, 198 lbs

4.) Birth date – 3/4/96 (21)

5.) Class – Senior

6.) College stats – 2016: 76 catches, 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns, 2017: 100 catches, 1,418 yards, and seven touchdowns. Gallup also had 44 catches, 780 yards, and 11 touchdowns as a true freshman at Butler Community College.

7.) NFL Draft round projection – Second or third round. Unlike the running backs, there doesn’t seem to be an alpha wide receiver in the draft. His size, speed, and ability to create space could boost his draft stock over some Power Five wide receivers.

8.) Current NFL comparison – Nelson Agholor. Other than the obvious comparison (height and weight), Agholor and Gallup share many of the traits that made Agholor a first-round pick. Both players have a thick frame and above average athletic qualities, although none are elite. The two similarities that pop straight out to me are the capacity to get open underneath coverage, and the ability to become a magnet in the red-zone. Agholor finished in third with 13 red-zone receptions in 2017, while Gallup finished tied for fifth with 12 red-zone receptions among all NCAA receivers.

[am4show have=’g1;’ guest_error=’sub_message’ user_error=’sub_message’ ]

9.) Best possible destination – A team with an established number one wide receiver. Like Agholor, Gallup is above average at nearly every wide receiver metric and quality, but his skillset isn’t elite. He will make a very nice complementary piece for clubs who have previously established stars. Houston, Dallas, Denver, and New Orleans are all attractive options that fit that mold for Gallup. I secretly love Green Bay as a potential landing spot. He fits all of their criteria and would be a great fit next to Davante Adams and Randall Cobb if the Packers move on from Jordy Nelson.

10.) Worst possible destination – Teams with limited offensive capability. A good quarterback will be key for Gallup to find sustained success; leaving teams like Miami, Jacksonville, and Baltimore all out of play. Not only do they not have a good quarterback, they do not have an alpha on the outside to shadow coverage away from Gallup.

11.) Best current skill – Showing up in the red zone. He has an excellent leaping ability and wins the 50/50 ball. He is super tough and can get open in a crowd. Gallup is the only receiver to finish in the top 15 nationally in red zone receptions over the past two seasons.

12.) Skill the needs to be improved – Route running. Like many receivers coming out of college, Gallup is not a very seasoned route runner. He tends to get lost on the field at times and will drift up-field rather than keep his routes crisp and tight. An NFC scout said of Gallup: “His production is a little better this year but I thought his tape was a lot better because he’s learning how to really play the position”.

13.) Past/current rookie ADP – He’s currently 15th (WR8) in our DLF Dynasty Rookie Rankings. He’s lumped in a cohort of wide receivers that includes DJ Moore, Equanimeous St. Brown, Auden Tate, and Deon Cain that ranges from 12-16 on the rankings page.

14.) Projected dynasty value – The 2018 wide receiver class isn’t particularly strong, and Gallup could range anywhere from WR4 to WR12 once rookie drafts begin. I foresee Gallup landing in the mid-to-late second round of most rookie drafts, falling behind the big name running backs and the tier one receivers: James Washington, Courtland Sutton, and Calvin Ridley.

15.) Quality of competition – It’s very fair to assume that Gallup’s numbers were so inflated because of a lower competition level. Colorado State resides in the Mountain West conference and plays teams like Wyoming, Utah State, and Hawaii on a yearly basis. In his one game against a premier opponent in Alabama, Gallup had five catches, 81 yards, and no touchdowns.

16.) Sure-handed – According to Pro Football Focus, Gallup only dropped four of 80 catchable passes in 2016, and he dropped seven of 99 catchable passes in 2017.

17.) Big play potential – Gallup finished 2016 ranked first in the yards per route run metric at PFF, with a mark of 4.51. He also ranked eighth in 2017 in the same category with a 3.47 average.

18.) Multi-sport star – He was a multi-sport star while he was a high schooler in Georgia. Gallup lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track, with four letters in each sport. He has a timed 4.40 forty time as a senior and broke numerous school records as a high jumper.

19.) Still learning – Gallup is still a very raw prospect. Scouts have noted that he has average-to-poor footwork, struggles to find the ball at times, and needs to learn how to scramble with his quarterback when plays break down.

20.) Highlights – He may not be the cleanest prospect in the draft, but Michael Gallup can make plays. Enjoy.