NFL Draft 2010 Prospects: Jordan Shipley (WR) Texas Longhorns

Texas Longhorn Jordan Shipley is a homegrown talent who enjoyed a prolific in-state prep career. The speedy, sure handed youngster had the good fortune to play for his father, head coach Bob Shipley, during his three years at Rotan and Burnet High School in Texas, where he would go on to set the state's all-time records for career receptions (252), yards (5,424) and touchdowns (73). Those numbers include a brilliant Senior season in which he caught 79 passes for 1,717 yards and 22 touchdowns on offense, while picking off 10 passes on defense. Yet Shipley's success came as a surprise to his father who claims he had no idea how good his son would be until his freshman debut when Shipley torched the opposition for over 450 total yards and 3 touchdowns.

Since then, Shipley has established himself as a collegiate star and the Longhorns top receiver going into the 2009 season. Though he missed both the 2004 and 2005 season with injuries, and had two unremarkable seasons following that (where he combined for 43 catches for 646 yards and 9 TDs receiving), Shipley came into his own last year when he caught 89 passes for 1,060 yards and 11 TDs for the Longhorns, adding two more scores on kick returns. Along the way he would turn in some of his best performances in some of the years biggest games, catching 11 passes for 112 yards against Oklahoma, and then 15 passes for 168 yards against Oklahoma State. Even in a close lose to Texas Tech, in which he was held to just 6 catches for 42 yards, Shipley produced a 45 yard punt return touchdown in the second half that got the Longhorns back in the game. By season's end, Shipley had been named to the 2008 All-Big 12 Second Team, a high honor considering that the All-Big 12 First team boosted two NFL first round picks last year.

Expectations remain high this season, with NFL scouts eyeing both him and quarterback Colt McCoy. With a pair of great hands, excellent speed, acceleration off the line, and the ability to run precise routes, look for Shipley to be an NFL receiver in the mold of the Colt's Anthony Gonzalez. Coming off a shoulder surgery this spring, Jordan Shipley looks to still be Colt McCoy's primary receiving option in 2009. If he bounces back well from his most recent injury, look for the 6-0, 190 lbs receiver to continue to be projected as a first or early second round draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Sources:

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

http://www.texasfootball.com

http://www.lubbockonline.com

http://www.castefootball.us