NFL Draft 2010 Profile: Dez Bryant (WR) Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant may well be the best available receiver come the 2010 NFL Draft. The 6-2, 210 lbs Bryant is coming off a sensational Sophomore season which saw him catch 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns. It was a season that cumulated in a 13 catch 167 yard Pacific Life Holiday Bowl performance, and one which included two 4 touchdown games along the way. Twice last season Bryant also surpassed the 200 yard mark (receiving ) in a game, with the earliest of those contests (a September 6^th game against Houston), standing out as perhaps his best performance of the season. Against Houston, Bryant not only had receiving touchdowns of 39, 39 and 74 yards that help give Oklahoma State the lead, he also returned a punt 74 yards for a score late in the game to seal the victory.

Yet as good as he was last year, Bryant's exploits on the football field should come as no surprise to those who have followed his career from his high school days at Lufkin High School in Texas. It was a prep career that Bryant filled with highlight reel catches on his way to posting over 100 receptions for +2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. By the time he was done at Lufkin, Bryant not only had earned All-State honors, he was also ranked among the top ten receiving prospects in the nation.

Choosing to attend Oklahoma State over all other top rated schools that recruited him, Bryant would go on to play in 12 games as a true Freshman, catching 43 passes for 622 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Cowboys. By season's end, he was a Second Team Freshman All-American, an honor he would raise to First Team All-American by the end of 2008.

But numbers only tell part of the tale as to why Bryant may very well end up the first receiver drafted after the 2009 college football season. A strong and physical receiver, Bryant has the ability to push defenders off him at the line of scrimmage; and while he does not have the elite speed of some faster receivers, Bryant is deceptively quick and closes well on the ball once it's in the air (highlights of his catches can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7X4vZBvfe4). Bryant also possesses good hands, has excellent concentration, and will adjust well to badly thrown passes, though of some concern is the off season surgery he had on his left knee for a small tear on a ligament.

Yet, if his 2009 season turns out anything like last year, look for NFL teams to make him a top 10 pick next season.

Sources:

http://collegefootball.rivals.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/

http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/playerpages/