Top two NFL WR prospects both elite in different ways
INDIANAPOLIS - Two of this year's elite college wide receivers are a study in contrasts.
The consensus No. 1 wide receiver in the draft is Mississippi's Laquon Treadwell from South suburban Crete.
But the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder won't solidify his status until he runs an acceptable 40 time, and there are critics who don't believe he will. Adding to the scrutiny is Treadwell's decision not to run at the combine but rather to wait until his pro day next month.
With his size, strength, athleticism, physicality and receiving skills, a 4.55 will be good enough to keep him in the fist round. A 4.7, however, could cause him to plummet.
"The questions don't really bother me," he said. "I still have to go out there and play and have the production on the field. I don't let it get to me. I'll run what I run and just stay confident in myself."
In his final two years at Crete-Monee High School, Treadwell caught 156 passes for 2,815 yards and 34 touchdowns. He finished his career as the second-leading receiver in IHSA history with 3,563 yards.
As a senior, he led the Class 6A state title team. Treadwell played defensive end as well, and had 8 sacks as a junior and 6 interceptions as a senior.
His collegiate progress was derailed midway through the 2014 season by a gruesome fractured tibia and dislocated ankle, but he came back better than ever in 2015 with career-best numbers: 82 catches (14.1-yard average), 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Battling the mental part of a devastating injury was a new challenge.
"The first night I just told myself that I knew how I got where I was," he said. "I knew what I had to do was work. Some days I would be down and be like, 'Aw, man, it's tough.' But I just stayed with it, kept my faith. My teammates pushed me, my coaches, (too). My family just made sure I stayed up and (in) high spirits."
Rehabbing, honing his craft and learning more about the game became Treadwell's focus.
"It was night and day," he said, "from 6 in the morning to 11 at night. Sometimes I would sleep in the facility and watch film, watch myself before (the injury) and just try to get that comfort level, that confidence back.
"Some days I was getting pushed out of bounds by defensive backs and (they were) talking trash to me. But that all made me the person I am today, and I just don't take the game for granted."
Rated just below Treadwell is a player who has been a wide receiver for only about eight months.
But once Ohio State's Braxton Miller decided to convert to wide receiver after two years at quarterback and a redshirt/injury season, he was all in.
"I've been a receiver since the day I switched," he said, "and that was the first day of (summer) camp in July."
Miller is such a rare athlete that, even though he caught just 26 passes for 341 yards (13.1-yard average) and 3 touchdowns in his only season as a wide receiver, he's been projected by some draft evaluators as a first-round pick.
It's more likely he'll go in the second round, but Miller is an intriguing prospect with excellent speed and the potential to also contribute as a running back and return specialist. He's willing to do anything he's asked when wide receiver workouts are conducted Saturday - running, jumping, benching or even throwing.
"Whatever they ask, I'm going to do it," he said. "I might do extra."
Miller is aware his toughest hurdle will be sharpening his route running and the nuances of his new position.
"It's not about who's the fastest or strongest," he said. "It's about perfecting that wide receiver position."
That being said, Miller could put up an eye-opening 40 time.
"I ran a 4.26 when I was a quarterback," he said. "Maybe I can top that."
The all-time combine record for the 40-yard dash is running back Chris Johnson's 4.24.
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