2014 NFL Draft: Jared Abbrederis Displays Versatile Skill Set

Sep 28, 2013; Columbus, OH, USA; Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Jared Abbrederis (4) makes a jumping catch while being defended by a Ohio State Buckeyes defender during the first quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Just call him “Abra Cadabra”.

Jared Abbrederis has been one of the most steady wide receiver prospects in all of college football over the last three years, despite the fact that he’s played with three different starting quarterbacks.

The Badgers’ star receiver had a huge game against Ohio State–albeit in a loss–but he made first round prospect Bradley Roby look like he was standing still at times, and he has shown over the last three years a very versatile skill set that is going to allow some team a second or third round steal.

Because of his skin color, Abbrederis is going to get compared to guys like Jordy Nelson, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Brian Hartline–you name it. Any white receiver out there and you’re going to hear the Abbrederis comparisons thrown around, and maybe some of those are valid.

I just think it’s unfair to strictly compare him to those guys because he has such a dynamic skill set, but if you were to pick one or two of those guys I think Abbrederis is a combination between what you get from Eric Decker and Wes Welker because of his ability to play inside or outside, as well as his ability to return punts.

Most scouts don’t expect the former walk-on to run a blazing 40 yard dash or blow anyone away with his size/athletic ability, but he runs great routes and tracks the ball very well. Most importantly, Abbrederis is sure-handed.

This is a prospect I really like, and I think like I said before, some team is going to get a second or third round value out of the guy and they might not have to take him in either of those rounds if his physical testing is average enough. Here’s my official scouting report on the Badgers receiver:

Jared Abbrederis is a gamer, and a guy who has been making big plays for Wisconsin ever since he was a freshman. This is a guy who knows hard work. He started out his career with the Badgers as a walk-on scout team quarterback who mimicked other dual-threat QBs the team would face. He didn’t even earn a scholarship until January of 2012. That means the year that Russell Wilson played with Wisconsin when Abbrederis had 55 catches for 933 yards and eight touchdowns, he wasn’t even on scholarship! Incredible.

Despite not being offered a scholarship until before his junior season, Abbrederis is a heck of a playmaker who can be used in a variety of ways. The Badgers use him as a receiver, returner, as well as a runner out of the backfield, and he has great vision with the ball in his hands. His stats took a dip as a junior because of the huge difference between Russell Wilson and whomever was taking snaps for the Badgers last year, but he still made a lot of big plays. For his career, he averages 16.6 yards per reception, the active leading number among returning receivers.

I think Abbrederis has the potential to be a really solid wideout at the NFL level. He works hard, has good length, and can make plays in a variety of ways. Since becoming a starter for the Badgers, he’s averaged over 17 yards per catch. This is a player I’m really looking forward to seeing in the NFL in 2014. He might not be a high pick, but he will scratch and claw his way to playing time early in his career.