Malachi Dupre, WR, LSU: 2017 NFL Draft Scouting Report
2017 NFL Draft: Scouting report and analysis for former LSU Tiger and 2017 NFL Draft wide receiver prospect Malachi Dupre…
Big names such as Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. spent their college days in Baton Rouge. The receivers that come out of LSU are all freakishly athletic and can catch the football, while height varies.
In his high school days in New Orleans, Malachi Dupre was a state-champion triple, long and high-jumper, so the athleticism is obviously present. However, a track star that can catch a football is an extreme rarity. The LSU Tigers had one special talent in Dupre, and at 6’2″, he has the height aspect that Landry and Beckham Jr. do not.
Measurables
Height: 6’2″
Arm Length: 31 1/2″
Weight: 196 lbs
Hands: 9″
Strengths
Dupre has the athletic ability and physical gifts that have scouts raving. He had the third best vertical jump and the second best broad jump amongst wide receivers at the 2017 Combine. He stands at 6’2″ but only weighs 196 pounds, making him easy for quarterbacks to see.
Dupre can also seamlessly redirect his body, which is something successful receivers must be able to do. He will get low for a ball, sky for a spectacular catch or reach back to bail out the quarterback on throws behind him. Once he gets his hands on the pigskin, the inner track star comes out as he turns upfield.
When Dupre is tracking the ball into his body, he can alter his position effortlessly while keeping his eyes on the football. His catch rate was impressive as a result of his constant focus on the ball while maneuvering himself into position to make the play.
Weaknesses
Perhaps his greatness weakness is his poor route-running ability. He has all the athleticism in the world but he somehow doesn’t get the separation he should. He has to work on that because he possesses so much more untapped potential that is chained up by the absence of this key skill.
Dupre doesn’t react quickly enough when the ball is snapped. He is a few seconds behind at the line of scrimmage and by the time he can develop his route, the play could be over. After all, one defender can blow up a play quickly and Dupre could still be in the middle of his route.
He doesn’t put in a lot of work as a blocker. Dupre will give a defender a bump but after that, he seems lackadaisical and doesn’t show much effort. He doesn’t hold his blocks for nearly as long as he needs to.
Final Thoughts
Malachi Dupre is one heck of an athlete with some pretty good hands. He can adjust his position in the air, down to the ground or reverse field to make a catch, all while keeping his eyes plastered on the football.
His statistics don’t reflect his true talent, as he had to deal with woeful quarterback play during his time in Baton Rouge. While his sub par route running certainly isn’t a good thing, it’s something that scouts understand to be coachable. In a draft stacked with receiver talent, he’ll find his way into either the third or fourth round.