Colorado WR Laviska Shenault Jr. declares for 2020 NFL Draft
Versatile Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. declares his intention to enter the 2020 NFL Draft pool via Twitter.
On Tuesday, Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. announced his intentions to enter the 2020 NFL Draft upon the completion of his junior season.
Shenault is one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football and has been regarded by many evaluators as a potential first round pick come April.
Shenault posted his announcement via a graphic on his Twitter account. In his message, Shenault stated:
"At 10 when I lost my father, I didn’t know what was next or what I wanted in life. Once football was introduced to me, a lot of doors opened up. As I got older I understood this was my way out.I’m blessed to be in the position I am and I know my dad would be proud of the foundation I left as I pursue my next dream of playing at the next level and declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft.At 10 when I lost my father, I didn’t know what was next or what I wanted in life. Once football was introduced to me, a lot of doors opened up. As I got older I understood this was my way out.I’m blessed to be in the position I am and I know my dad would be proud of the foundation I left as I pursue my next dream of playing at the next level and declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft."
https://twitter.com/CUBuffsFootball/status/1201954168384061440
Laviska Shenault has proven to be one of the best big play threats in the nation, showing the ability to take any throw to the house. Whether it’s a deep ball that he can track and catch in stride or a simple screen pass allowing him to operate in space, Shenault is a touchdown waiting to happen.
At 6-foot-2 and 220 lbs, Shenault has a wide receiver frame but the lower body strength of a running back, a position that Colorado utilizes him at from time to time (40 rushes for 276 yards and seven touchdowns in his last two seasons). Shenault excels as a wildcat quarterback and looks like a natural running back bursting through a hole.
As a receiver, Shenault had an outstanding showing in 2018, posting 1,011 receiving yards on 80 catches including six touchdowns in just nine games. He is a very physical receiver throughout his route and can go get a jump ball with great body control and sticky hands.
Shenault hasn’t been quite as effective in 2019, catching 56 balls for 764 yards and four touchdowns to this point on the season. He has missed a couple games this season with a core muscle injury and has had multiple surgeries thus far in his career (toe and torn labrum). Durability may be the primary knock on Shenault heading into the draft process.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Shenault as his 12th overall prospect and third best wide receiver in the 2020 NFL Draft. In my latest mock draft I project Shenault to go 3oth overall in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft to the New Orleans Saints, while our Dan Schmelzer thinks Shenault is a perfect fit for the Baltimore Ravens.
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As a big, physical wide receiver with incredible talent, versatility and big-play potential, Laviska Shenault Jr. will be a coveted prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft. I expect him to test well at the Combine and if his physical comes back clean he absolutely could end up going off the board in the first round in April now that he has made the decision to forgo his senior season at Colorado and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.