20/20: Rashard Higgins

Austan Kas Posted On February 9, 2016

higgins

Welcome to 20/20! As part of our continued Dynasty Scouts coverage and in preparation for the NFL Combine later this month, we’ll be profiling 20 of the top incoming rookies of the class of 2016 by giving you 20 facts you must know.

1.) Player Name — Rashard Higgins

2.) College — Colorado State

3.) Height/Weight — 6-foot-2, 190 pounds

4.) Birth date — 10/07/1994

5.) Class — Junior.

6.) Basic college stats — In 38 games as a three-year starter, Higgins amassed 238 receptions for 3,648 yards and 31 touchdowns, averaging 15.3 yards per catch. He has 12 career games of at least 100 yards receiving.

7.) NFL Draft round projection — Third round.

8.) Current NFL comp — Paul Richardson.

9.) Best possible destination — Carolina Panthers. It’s a miracle — and testament to Cam Newton — Carolina had so much offensive success with what they trotted out there at wideout this past season. Looking ahead, Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess should give Newton two solid weapons on the outside, and Higgins could slide in nicely as a slot receiver. If Funchess fails to develop, Higgins could possibly play on the outside.

10.) Worst possible destination — Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are already set at receiver with Donte Moncrief, T.Y. Hilton, Andre Johnson and Phillip Dorsett. Even if Indianapolis cuts Johnson this off-season, Higgins would need injuries to become a starter in the foreseeable future.

11.) Best current skill — Route running. Compared to most receiver prospects, he is advanced in his ability to run crisp, sharp routes. Higgins made a lot of big plays in his three years with Colorado State, but he is really good running short, intermediate routes.

12.) Skill that needs to be improved — Working against press-man coverage. Like a lot of rookie wideouts, Higgins struggles when facing physical, bump-and-run coverage. If this doesn’t improve, he may be forced inside to the slot.

13.) Past/current rookie ADP — He’s currently the 13th receiver off the board with an ADP of 18.

14.) Projected dynasty value — Overall, I think Higgins lacks elite athleticism, physicality and burst, capping his ceiling as that of a WR2, but I see him as more of a WR3.

15.) Off The Radar — Higgins was completely overlooked by recruiting services. Rivals rated him as a two-star prospect out of high school and didn’t assign him a national, state or positional ranking.

16.) Super Sophomore — After a solid freshman season (837 yards, six scores), Higgins burst onto the scene with a monster sophomore campaign in 2014, becoming a First Team All-American. He hauled in 96 passes for 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns. The yards and touchdowns led all Division I receivers in 2014. He complied those numbers with Garrett Grayson, a third-round pick of the New Orleans Saints, at quarterback and Jim McElwain as his coach.

17.) YAC monster — During Higgins’ breakout sophomore season, 53 percent of his yards came after the catch.

18.) Goodbye Garrett — With Grayson in the NFL and McElwain at Florida, Higgins’ numbers took a step back in 2015. He racked up 74 receptions for 1,061 yards and eight scores as a junior.

19.) Pack On The Pounds– One of his most glaring weaknesses is his thin frame. Higgins is listed at 190 pounds, but he sure doesn’t look it. I’d guess he’s closer to 180 than 190. He missed one game over each of the past two seasons with injury.

20.) Record Ram — Higgins leaves Colorado State at the school’s all-time leader in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receptions. His 68-catch season as a freshman also broke the Rams’ record for catches by a first-year player.

[/am4show]