Dontay Demus Jr. is an intriguing deep threat in the 2022 NFL Draft

Maryland WR Dontay Demus Jr. has an intriguing skill set for the 2022 NFL Draft.

The wide receiver class is slowly taking shape for the 2022 NFL Draft, and with questions surrounding the top of the group, depth might be the option for many teams this cycle. The Big Ten has a great group of receivers for the coming draft, and one of them is Maryland Terrapins’ wideout Dontay Demus Jr.

Demus is having a great start to his 2021 season, as he has 24 catches for 446 yards and three touchdowns, along with over 18 yards per reception. He’s well on pace to set career bests this fall, and while part of that is an expanding offense with Taulia Tagovailoa at the helm, Demus has taken a step forward as a deep threat with intriguing traits.

He’s a tall and long player, listed at 6’3″ and 217 pounds. His length provides quarterbacks with a reliable catch radius, and he has long strides to eat up cushion quickly win down the field as a vertical threat. He’s physical enough to stack defenders and is an adequate tracker of the football. Demus has the speed and field vision post-catch to make the first defender miss and erase some angles.

Deep threats will always find a way to contribute in the NFL, and Demus has the size to grow into an “X” type of receiver. The question for him going forward in this season is if he can build a strong enough route tree, as he’s done most of his work on a vertical plane and on short crossers over the middle.

The Big Ten schedule should provide Dontay Demus Jr. with plenty of tests (including the game against Iowa as this is published) so building a strong resume is possible. With his speed, frame, and vertical presence, there’s a chance Demus could find himself on the late day two radar in the 2022 NFL Draft.