NFL Draft 2017: 5 most underrated prospects to keep an eye on

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Nov 19, 2016; Greenville, NC, USA; East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Zay Jones (7) makes a second quarter catch against Navy Midshipmen linebacker Justin Norton (5) to break the all time FBS record tying catch for receptions against the Navy Midshipmen at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Zay Jones caught 399 passes in four seasons, a new FBS single-season record. He nearly doubled his catch-total in his senior season, catching 158 passes for 1,746 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. He caught 98 passes in 2015.

Jones earned All-American honors this past season despite playing in the American Athletic Conference. His receptions and receiving yards were first in the FBS a season ago. Despite going 8-18 in his final two seasons, Jones still did his part on the offensive end.

Jones caught 10 or more receptions in 10 of 12 games in 2016. He caught a career-high 212 receiving yards against the Navy Midshipmen back on November 19. He caught a career-high 22 catches against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and a 46.5′ vertical leap, raising his stock in the NFL Draft. After turning heads with a strong combine performance, Jones is one of the receivers who could turn into a solid pro sooner rather than later. At 6-foot-2 and 201-pounds, he has the NFL-build to be a star. Whichever team gives him a chance in the NFL Draft will have a playmaker on their hands for seasons to come.

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