Mario Alford: 2015 NFL Draft Scouting Report

When talking about West Virginia, Kevin White dominates conversations, and most forget about the Mountaineers other receiver. Mario Alford had a very solid senior campaign, registering over 60 catches, almost 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, along with being a standout performer on special teams.

Strengths: Alford’s biggest strength is his straight line speed. Alford has the ability to take the top off of a defense, not allowing defensive coordinators to stack the box while he is on the field. His speed also forces corners to play off, fearing that Alford will fly by them, opening up dig routes and slants. Alford has good hands and is fairly physical for a player of his stature, measuring in at 5’9″ and only 177 lbs. He is a very intelligent receiver as well, recognizing when his quarterback is in trouble and being able to work his way back into the quarterback’s line-of-sight. Alford is a dynamic returner, who possess the ability to take every kick back to-the-house.

Weakness: One of the biggest slights against Alford is his size. Being only 5’9″ and 177 lbs, teams worry about how he will match up against bigger, stronger receivers in the NFL. While Alford demonstrates good speed, his acceleration is subpar and it takes him a little while to reach his top speed. He also had a tendency to lose his concentration from time to time, causing drops or messy routes. Alford’s route running will need to improve, and he will have a bit of a learning curve because West Virginia coaches didn’t ask him to run many different routes. He will have to learn the routes and then polish them at the next level.

Oct 4, 2014; Morgantown, WV, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers wide receivers Kevin White (11) and Mario Alford (5) celebrate after White scored a touchdown against the Kansas Jayhawks during the first quarter at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Highlights and Awards: Lead Big 12 in Receiving Touchdowns in 2014 (11), Lead Big 12 in Return Touchdowns (2),

Pro Comparison: Andrew Hawkins

Draft Outlook: Mario Alford has some good traits, but as an overall package, Alford isn’t exactly the most complete prospect. Alford will definitely latch on to a team and be invited to someones training camp, but it will be due to signing a contract with a team as an undrafted free agent, rather than by being drafted.