Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss

As a Southern Miss alum I thought I should make a thread on him. Late round prospect

NFL.com info:

Height: 6'0
Weight: 185
40 time: 4.35 (2nd fastest at combine, reportedly ran a 3.6 during hand time at pro day) I kid on the 2nd part

Strengths:

Adequate size/speed combination outside
Grew into his athletic ability in 2019
Play was much more composed and explosive
At his best playing vertical and running through zones
Workable separation on over routes and crossers
Getting better making catches in a crowd
Leaper with good timing to alter jump-ball odds
Sudden burst after catch to get away from immediate tackler
Can compete as kick/punt returner

Weaknesses
Unable to maintain level of play against better competition
Hemmed up by physicality of Alabama's Trevon Diggs
Hands and feet need more schooling to defeat cramped release
Hip tightness restricts flow of route
Struggles to bend and brake on intermediate comebacks
Late adjusting to underthrown balls
Shows signs of skittishness working into traffic
Appears to be a body-catcher by nature

Sources Tell Us:
"I might be a little higher on him than some others you talk to because I saw improvement and I see areas of his game that can keep getting better with time and work." -- Area scout for NFC team

Don't know why, because he is a late round prospect, but was disappointed by his tape. Granted, I've seen 3 highlight videos that probably total about 15 minutes on the guy, but after seeing that 40 time and considering he plays in C-USA, I thought he would be burning people. And I don't see that game speed. Have seen his caught from behind several times on his highlights. He doesn't seem particularly shifty, as you dont see much in the tape of him on bubble screens or running reverses or fielding punts. Not alot of special teams experience and his punt and kickoff averages are not impressive. Mostly is running go routes and deep crosses. Rushing stats are not impressive. He makes some impressive catches on 50/50 balls. Has good timing and high points the ball well, but for running a 4.3 he is constantly battling coverage. Seems like he doesnt get off any press well, and with hand to hand combat and knowing that route he is running he's not a particularly difficult cover.

I only saw a handful of times he got caught from behind and one i think he just ran out of juice and the others were the defenders already in front of him taking good angles. He ran a lot of underneath routes on those.

Its hard to tell on the deep throws if he can get better seperation or is he just playing to where the ball is thrown too? Its not like USM had a strong arm QB.

I dont know but a late round pick is going to have flaws.