CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
JAUAN JENNINGS
HEIGHT/WEIGHT/AGE
6-foot-3
215 pounds
22 years old
BIG PICTURE
Jauan Jennings may have played himself into Day 2 status with a strong senior season at Tennessee. The converted quarterback started out with the Volunteers in 2015 as a receiver, came onto the scene as a sophomore with seven touchdowns, including a Hail Mary vs. Georgia, then missed almost all of 2017 with a wrist injury. Injuries bothered him in 2018 as well, but Jennings finished strong with 969 yards and eight touchdowns last season, then attended the Senior Bowl in January. Jennings is not fast, but he makes up for his lack of speed with size and toughness. He can operate out of the slot and is nearly impossible to bring down. The main question is his ability to separate in the NFL.
COMBINE NOTABLES
4.72 40-yard dash (2nd worst)
29-inch vertical (2nd worst)
119-inch broad jump
VIKINGS COMPATIBILITY RANKING
2 out of 5. Vikings would have to figure out if Jennings is a fit with his lack of athleticism. He doesn’t feel, however, like the style of receiver Minnesota covets in this system.
HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT DRAFT EXPERTS SAY
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Big slot target with size, savvy and toughness, but lacking in functional speed and general quickness. Jennings can be clever in stemming and tilting coverage enough to open throwing windows, but getting away from press coverage is going to be difficult for him. What he can’t do may keep him from being drafted, but competitiveness at the catch point, with the ball in his hands, and as a blocker should get him into camp and give him an outside shot as a big, possession slot.”
Kyle Crabbs, Draft Network: “Tennessee wide receiver Jauan Jennings enjoyed a productive final campaign for the Vols and he’s exceptional after the catch, although not in the ways one would expect. Typically good YAC guys are explosive and slippery but Jennings is neither. He wins after the catch with vision, physicality, body control and a refusal to get tackled. He’s simply a master at forcing missed tackles. In addition, Jennings has strong hands and ball skills. With that said, Jennings is severely lacking when it comes to burst, agility and speed. He doesn’t profile well to create separation at the next level and he’s likely to continuously have defensive backs draped all over his frame. Jennings play strength, body control and physicality are blue chip traits and that should give him a chance as a WR4 that helps on special teams.”
WHAT PFF SAYS
30 broken tackles last year (1st)
898 slot yards (13th)
180 deep yards (211th)
CHECK OUT THE REST OF THE ZONE COVERAGE DRAFT GUIDE:
TOP 100 PLAYER PROFILES
RANKING THE VIKINGS NEEDS
EXPLORING VIKINGS DRAFT TRENDS
A HISTORY OF RICK SPIELMAN’S DRAFT TRADES
VIKINGS TARGETS
LUKE INMAN’S MOCK DRAFTS
SENIOR BOWL CENTRAL
FEATURES FROM OUR STAFF
