pick #2 -- dwayne jarret

One of the best playmakers in the collegiate ranks, Jarrett has been very good at using his size to create mismatches vs. the smaller cornerbacks the Trojans have faced. While he lacks blazing speed, Jarrett has garnered most of his success because of his field awareness, size and timing his leaps to get to the ball at its high point.

Even though he opted to test his wares in the pro ranks after only three seasons at USC, he finished his career as the Pac-10 Conference's all-time leader with 41 touchdown catches and as the school's career record holder with 216 receptions.

Before attending Southern California, Jarrett was a 2003 Parade, SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American selection. He added SuperPrep Elite 50, PrepStar Top 100 Dream Team, SuperPrep All-Northeast Offensive MVP, PrepStar All-East and New Jersey Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior wide receiver and defensive back at New Brunswick High School.

Jarrett scored 26 touchdowns (including all three in New Brunswick's 21-14 state title victory), with five of the scores coming on his 15 punt returns (for a 48.0-yard average) in 2003. As a junior in 2002, he had 40 receptions for 956 yards (23.9 avg.) with 17 touchdowns on offense and recorded 24 tackles with six interceptions on defense. He also played basketball at New Brunswick.

He enrolled at Southern California in 2004, making an immediate impact. Jarrett earned Freshman All-American honors from the Football Writers Association, The Sporting News, College Football News and Rivals.com. He was also an All-Pac-10 Conference honorable mention and a member of The Sporting News Freshman All-Pac-10 first team. Jarrett appeared in 13 games, taking over as the starting split end in the final eight contests. He caught 55 passes for 849 yards (15.4 avg.) and 13 touchdowns (fifth-most scores in a season by a Trojans receiver).

Jarrett was one of three finalists for the 2005 Biletnikoff Award (nation's top receiver). He won the Touchdown Club of Columbus' Wide Receiver of the Year Award and was named to The Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers, Walter Camp, The Sporting News, The NFL Draft Report, Sports Illustrated and College Football News All-American first teams. He joined Mike Williams as the only USC sophomore wide receivers to win All-American honors.

That season, he ranked 12th nationally in receptions (7.0 per game, second in Pac-10) and 13th in receiving yards (98.0 per game, fourth in Pac-10). His 91 catches were good for third on USC's single-season record list. His 16 touchdown catches were the most in the nation in 2005 and put him third on the Pac-10 single-season record chart (tying Williams' USC season record). He had a touchdown catch in nine different games and five 100-yard receiving games. With 1,274 receiving yards, he was the Trojans' ninth receiver to break the 1,000-yard barrier in a season.

Jarrett was hampered by injury problems that began in fall camp in 2006. A quadriceps strain in mid-August would linger throughout the early stages of the season. He suffered a left shoulder separation vs. Arizona that forced him to miss one game and see limited action in two others. He later suffered a concussion on a 25-yard touchdown catch against California. Still, he earned The Associated Press and Walter Camp All-American first-team accolades, making him USC's first-ever two-time All-American first-team wide receiver. Jarrett finished the season with 11 starts in 12 games, grabbing 70 passes for 1,015 yards (14.5 avg.) and 12 touchdowns.

In 38 games at Southern California, Jarrett started 31 times. He set the school career record with 216 receptions and the Pac-10 Conference all-time mark with 41 touchdown catches, gaining 3,138 yards (14.5 avg.), joining Johnnie Morton (3,201) and Kareem Kelly (3,104) as the only players in school history to gain more than 3,000 receiving yards in a career.
ANALYSIS

Positives: Has long arms and legs with a frame that can carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk … Plays with only adequate quickness, but shows very good ball concentration and aggressiveness going after the ball … Has very good timing and leaping ability to get to the ball at its high point … Needs to add more bulk and upper body power to run through the press, but once he gets into his route, he is able to build his acceleration nicely … Has quick hands and the ability to uncover working underneath … Very consistent extending for the ball and builds to top acceleration nicely if he is able to beat the press … Has only adequate timed speed, but does a fine job of tracking the ball in flight and has outstanding ball adjustment skills … Uses his tall frame to create mismatches vs. the smaller defenders competing for the jump balls and is never affected by traffic in his quest to get under the pass … Not the fastest you will find on linear routes, but shows good cutting agility to separate after the catch … It is rare to see Jarrett glide out of his breaks like most bigger receivers tend to do … With Jarrett's low pad level and ability to open his hips, he is very effective at getting in and out of his breaks without having to throttle down … Does a good job going deep and is alert to pocket pressure, making a conscious effort to come back for the ball … Quite effective at keeping his feet in bounds along the sideline … Excels at making the tough catch inside the red zone, especially on corner and fade routes … Might not be able to overpower a defender going through the seams, but he has the flexibility to turn to the off-target balls and catch outside his frame … Finds the path of the ball quickly to settle underneath it, compensating for a lack of timed speed … The thing you see on film is his ability to reach and snatch the ball over a defender's head … Has only adequate speed and acceleration, but he has the loose hips to avoid tackles and maintain balance through his running stride … Good at taking a shallow crossing pass into big yardage when he makes a conscious effort to escape rather than try to run over the defender … Uses his hands well to shade, mirror and control edge rushers on contact and won't hesitate to get physical … Good position blocker in attempts to seal off and takes good angles to deliver a solid cut block vs. second level defenders.

Negatives: Lacks the timed speed to get down field in a hurry, but has the body control and ability to catch outside his frame to adjust and compete for the ball in flight … Has adequate ability to retain plays, but does need several reps … Alert to coverages, but will get a little sloppy and run right into spots at times … Consistently works back to the ball and while he can adjust on the move, he is not going to be the type who can handle multiple position assignments … Was almost ruled ineligible in June for violating NCAA rules by not paying enough rent for the apartment he shared with former Trojans quarterback Matt Leinart … There is a lot of the brash Keyshawn Johnson and the flippant Mike Williams attitude in this kid … Plays hard until the whistle, but will look lackadaisical at times and goes through the motions in practice and needs some structure there … While he will compete for the ball in a crowd, he will struggle vs. strong press coverage and gets frustrated at times when he can't separate from the speedier cornerbacks … Lacks the overall strength to defeat a strong jam and doesn't demonstrate the blazing speed or suddenness getting into his routes … Looks sluggish with his burst off the snap and relies more on his size mismatches than speed to get under the ball … A long strider rather than a receiver who takes short, quick steps … When he tries to lower his shoulder to run over a defensive back, that is when he gets into trouble, as he doesn't have the brute strength to break tackles.

Compares To: Keyshawn Johnson of the Carolina Panthers … While his work ethic and lack of speed remind some of Detroit's Mike Williams, Jarrett's ability on fade and corner routes and timing on his leaps for the jump ball rival that of another former USC receiver … Jarrett is much better at keeping his feet in bounds than Johnson, and he has some of the more natural hands you will find out there … However, he needs to show that he is maturing off the field and must improve his overall strength and hand usage, as he will struggle vs. physical press coverage.
INJURY REPORT

2006: Bothered early in the season by a sore quadriceps muscle suffered midway through August camp … Suffered a left shoulder separation vs. Arizona (Sept. 23) and re-injured it the following week vs. Washington State, sitting out the Washington game (Oct. 7) … Suffered a mild concussion on his 25-yard touchdown catch vs. California (Nov. 18).
AGILITY TESTS

Campus: 4.57 in the 40-yard dash … 290-pound bench press … 400-pound squat … 36½-inch vertical jump … 32½-inch arm length … 9½-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL

Attended New Brunswick (N.J.) High School … 2003 Parade, SuperPrep and PrepStar All-American selection … Added SuperPrep Elite 50, PrepStar Top 100 Dream Team, SuperPrep All-Northeast Offensive MVP, PrepStar All-East and New Jersey Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior wide receiver and defensive back … Scored 26 touchdowns (including all three in New Brunswick's 21-14 state title victory), with five of the scores coming on his 15 punt returns (for a 48.0-yard average) in 2003 … As a junior in 2002, he had 40 receptions for 956 yards (23.9 avg.) with 17 touchdowns on offense and recorded 24 tackles with six interceptions on defense … Also played basketball at New Brunswick.
PERSONAL

Sociology major … Cousin, Desmond Belton, is a receiver at the University of Idaho (2004-present) … Born Sept. 11, 1986 … Resides in New Brunswick, N.J.

 

Question marks surround record-breaking receiver

By Randy Covitz,
The Kansas City Star

Kansas City, Mo. | As many as five wide receivers could be taken in the first round of the NFL draft. There's little doubt Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, who has size, speed and sure hands, will be first.

But targeting the second and third wide receivers is a bit of a puzzle.

Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr. is fast, LSU's Dwayne Bowe is big and strong, and Tennessee's Robert Meachem is a brilliant athlete.

But where to peg Southern California's Dwayne Jarrett?

His 40-yard dash times at USC's Pro Day were slow - 4.62 and 4.67. Some wonder whether he can get separation from NFL-level cornerbacks. Others question his work ethic.

All Jarrett can do is cite his production.

"Just look at my body of work," Jarrett said. "I won a national championship as a freshman. Sophomore year, we went back and lost. And then we won the Rose Bowl.

"I've been All-American two times, broke (almost) every record at USC, was fourth in NCAA history in scoring touchdowns. I had 41. So look at the film."

The film does not lie.

Jarrett, a towering 6 feet 4 and 219 pounds, made some of the most remarkable catches in college football the last three years, including a memorable, one-handed grab, with one foot inbounds, for a 7-yard touchdown against Washington in 2005; and an amazing one-handed stab as part of a three-touchdown game against Notre Dame last year.

Jarrett caught 70 passes for 1,015 yards and 12 touchdowns last season as a junior, capped by 11 receptions for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the 32-18 victory in the Rose Bowl against Michigan and the Wolverines' Leon Hall, considered the top cornerback in the draft.

Jarrett, playing at a school that produced Lynn Swann, Keyshawn Johnson and Johnnie Morton, finished his career ranked first in USC history in receptions, 216; second in yards, 3,138; and first in touchdown catches with 41, a Pacific-10 record.

"Dwayne is a big, strong acrobatic receiver with great hands and is so difficult to defend," said USC coach Pete Carroll. "He has a knack for making big plays ... if you see him on the field, you see he is just so natural and gifted."

Not everyone is convinced. Some compare Jarrett to Mike Williams, a star receiver for USC's 2003 national championship team who has been a huge disappointment after the Lions selected him with the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft.

"I don't think Dwayne Jarrett has the skills today to get off the line of scrimmage against (high) quality NFL corners," said NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock. "He's a great athlete, he runs better than Mike Williams, he's nowhere near as stiff through the hips as Williams. He's got great ball skills like a Larry Fitzgerald.

"His question mark is going to be his speed and suddenness. Can he get off the line of scrimmage? Can he run away from NFL corners?"

Jarrett distances himself from Williams but embraces the comparisons to Fitzgerald, the second overall pick from Pittsburgh in 2004 and a 2005 Pro Bowler with Arizona.

"Mike did great while he was at USC," Jarrett said. "But I think we're two opposite players. The only thing we have in common is we went to the same school.

"I definitely like Larry Fitzgerald ... his whole style of game, his body control, the way he goes up and gets the ball. I definitely model my approach after him."

Jarrett might realize his potential in the NFL if taken by the Tennessee Titans, whose offensive coordinator, Norm Chow, had the same job at USC during Jarrett's first two seasons. The Titans have the 19th pick and need to replace Drew Bennett, a similar big target, who left in free-agency.

While he benefited from playing at USC with such talent as Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush as well as Williams and running back LenDale White, Jarrett makes the argument that he might have put up even more impressive numbers at another school.

"I know I played with a lot of talent," he said. "But that made it harder for me to get my numbers up there. All those guys want the ball, and I still had to put my numbers up. So that speaks for itself."

 

Smith, Johnson, Carter and Jarrett. No guarantees that Carter and/or Johnson will be here beyond '07, so this isn't a horrible pick. We're obviously picking the replacement for Keyshawn.

he's not Mike Williams

 

Key likes it. I sure like it a lot better than the last pick.

 

no, he's the next Keary Colbert. Sets all the records in college then falls flat on his ass in the pros.

 

I love it. I think he will be good. My friends down here are pissed at the Falcons for all their picks today. Pretty good draft for us and another 2nd round pick to go

 

C'mon man. Try to be a little optimistic. Maybe he'll do well.

 

Jarrett and Colbert are totally different. We could have done a lot worse with that pick.

 

I didn't like the pick, with our needs, but he's a lot stronger and more physical the Keary.