NFL scouts are discovering this week at the East-West Shrine Game what those who have followed Georgia Tech have known for the past four years. Wide receiver Darren Waller has all the necessary tools to play in the NFL.
Waller has caught scouts’ attention with his size and strength in practices this week in St. Petersburg, Fla. Waller, 6-foot-5 and 241 pounds, has reportedly overpowered cornerbacks in drills.
Tony Pauline of Draft Insider wrote that Waller "physically dominated opponents" on the first day of practices. He also noted that Waller could play tight end in the NFL.
He was named one of 15 Shrine Game prospects who had created buzz among scouts by nfldraftscout.com.
An NFL.com story also mentioned his size and quoted a draft analyst who suggested that he could be taken on the second day of the draft (second and third rounds).
In the article, Waller also addressed what was described as a passive demeanor. Waller said that he needs to get to a point where his “passion for the game is just there rather than having to think about it.”
He also acknowledged that his two-game suspension at the start of the season was for a positive marijuana test.
Waller finished his career strongly. After DeAndre Smelter’s ACL tear against Georgia in the final regular-season game, Waller caught a career-high five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. Against Mississippi State in the Orange Bowl, Waller had his first 100-yard receiving game with five catches for 114 yards and a touchdown.
In his final two games, he had 19 percent of his career yards, 10 percent of his catches and 22 percent of his touchdown catches.
Former Tech linebacker Quayshawn Nealy is also playing in the Shrine Game, Saturday at 4 p.m. on the NFL Network.
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