SAN JOSE — It was one final hurrah for Nick Nash on his house subject, the place he grew to become one of the prolific receivers within the historical past of San Jose State soccer.
Nash went via the paces on his professional day final month with a few of his Spartans teammates, catching every part thrown his method as standard.
“One last time for us to get together,” Nash stated.
As a senior, Nash received the NCAA’s triple crown, main the nation in receptions (104), yards (1,382) and touchdowns (16). So it’s clear Nash can do the three issues which are most necessary within the NFL — get open, catch the ball and rating touchdowns.
If solely it have been that easy.
When the NFL Draft begins with the primary spherical Thursday, Nash’s cellphone shall be silent. Barring a significant shock, it should stay that method on Friday via the second and third rounds. Lastly on Day 3, Nash will obtain the decision that he hopes will change his life anyplace from the fourth via seventh rounds.
Twenty-six groups confirmed as much as see Nash and a few of his school teammates work out at CEFCU Stadium final month. Nash is aware of the draft course of is ultra-critical, and he plans on being affected person.
“It’s politics. It’s how it works,” Nash stated after his exercise. “I’m not really worried about the outside noise. I’m just trying to focus on myself and showing I belong at the next level.”
Nash sat out the Spartans’ 41-39 loss to South Florida within the Hawaii Bowl to get a soar on the NFL Scouting Mix. He skilled at Bommarito Efficiency in Miami to boost bodily attributes aside from having the ability to exploit holes in a protection and convert first downs.
“Got me where I needed to be,” Nash stated.
Nash’s 40-yard sprint time was an enough 4.57 with a 34-inch vertical leap and a ten foot, 3 inch broad soar. He measured at simply over 6-foot-2 and 203 kilos. It received’t be sufficient for a first-round draft day name like earlier triple-crown winners DeVonta Smith of Alabama (No. 10 general to Philadelphia in 2020) or Michael Crabtree (No. 10 to the 49ers in 2009).
A fourth triple-crown winner, Jerreth Sterns of Western Kentucky, by no means did get drafted in 2021 after catching 150 passes for 1,902 yards and 17 touchdowns. He signed as an undrafted free agent with Tampa Bay, didn’t stick, had a cup of espresso on the Rams follow squad, and is now property of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Soccer League.
Nash simply needs an opportunity, and he is aware of what NFL groups are searching for. He’s been invited to the 49ers’ native Professional Day on April 9. The 49ers traded Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk isn’t anticipated to play till the season is underway after a torn ACL.
“I think getting off press coverage is going to be the biggest thing,” Nash stated. “From the coaches that I’ve talked to, that’s the biggest transition for all receivers. I can do it, but it’s obviously something I still have to work on.”
Now that the measuring and timing of the mix is completed, Nash believes he can promote an NFL group an apparent fact — that nothing issues extra for a large receiver than discovering open areas, securing the ball and getting in the long run zone.
Nash got here to San Jose State as a quarterback earlier than shifting to receiver in 2022. So he understands route ideas and the way issues work within the passing recreation.
Nick Nash (3) of Sam Jose State scores certainly one of his 16 touchdowns in 2024 in opposition to Wyoming at CEFCU Stadium. Karl Mondon/Bay Space Information Group
“I would say the ability to get open, high-point balls and my aggressiveness toward catching it will be the biggest thing,” he stated. “My mind is going to be a big key for me, showing I can learn an offense quickly and produce at a high level.”
San Jose State quarterback Walker Eget is admittedly biased. Nash was each his roommate, golf associate and favourite receiver and the considered him lasting till Day 3 is a head-scratcher.
“It blows my mind,” Eget stated. “I think he will be one of the best players in the NFL right away. I think people don’t know the amount of knowledge he has and the understanding of the game he he has. He’s still young at the position compared to guys who have played it their whole life.”
There are many examples of receivers whose talent at catch the ball has outmoded the bodily attributes of operating and leaping.
The 49ers bought their main receiver in 2024, Jauan Jennings, within the seventh spherical of the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Los Angeles Rams bought Cooper Kupp within the third spherical, and all he did was win the NFL’s model of the triple crown in 2021. Kupp is now with Seattle, partly as a result of the Rams discovered one other gem in Puka Nacua of Brigham Younger within the fifth spherical in 2023 (177 general) after 19 different broad receivers have been drafted.
For what it’s value, Nacua’s 40-yard sprint time on the mix was 4.57 — the identical as Nash.
“I feel like I can play fast, I can play slower, I can play big and small,” Nash stated. “I think I’m pretty versatile in that way. I’d say the closest comp would be Nacua and Kupp, and it would be cool to end up with someone like that and learn from some of those guys.”
Discipline Yates covers the NFL and the draft for ESPN and likes what he sees even when he believes Nash will final till the third day.
“I like Nick a lot,” Yates stated on a convention name. “He has got so much nuance and craft to his game. The guy is operating at a higher level than any defensive back that tried to cover him unsuccessfully last year.”
Yates sees Nash as being much like Marques Colston, a former seventh-round draft select of Hofstra who caught 711 passes for 9,759 yards and 72 touchdowns in 10 seasons as an ideal offensive match for coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees.
With a much bigger physique than a slot nook and agile sufficient to get away from linebackers and safeties, Yates sees a doable future as an inside slot receiver.
Jordan Reid, one other ESPN draft analyst, cited Nash’s average bodily presents as a unfavourable in a draft sense.
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“He put up some gaudy numbers last year. They pushed the ball to him a whole bunch and he put up ridiculous numbers,” Reid stated. “I think fifth or sixth is a fair projection. The production is off the charts. It’s just a matter of how comfortable are you with his athleticism?”
Nash doesn’t take the critiques personally and smiles when it’s steered that catching the ball is definitely down the listing relating to scouting NFL receivers.
“There’s not much I can do about it,” Nash stated. “I’ll leave that to the analysts and scouts. They get paid to do it so I’m sure know what they’re doing.”
