2018 NFL Draft: CSU wide receiver Michael Gallup could be late-round steal
By Jacob Wilson
Colorado State’s Michael Gallup is widely regarded as one of the nation’s top wide receivers, but will he impress enough to earn himself a spot in the first few rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft?
Michael Gallup has experienced quite the turnaround over the course of his career, transferring from Butler County Community College to Colorado State following two straight years of dominance in the NJCAA. Little did he know it at the time, but the junior college receiver was well on his way to getting drafted into the NFL.
Gallup’s transfer from junior college to the FBS level went far better than anyone could have imagined. The junior went on to record 76 catches for 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first year with the Rams. Gallup saw a decrease in redzone production during his senior year, but bumped up his receiving totals to 100 receptions for 1,413 yards.
Strengths
Gallup is at his best when he’s running his routes in rhythm. He is excellent at finding the proper holes in coverages, otherwise known as being in the right place at the right time. This helped him develop quite the rapport with quarterback Nick Stevens and could lead to a similar relationship with an NFL quarterback.
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In my opinion, Gallup can be easily compared to Emmanuel Sanders of the Denver Broncos. Gallup is a little bigger, but both have made their money through their route-running prowess. They can each make a big catch or two if they have to, but are more effective when their feet do the talking.
Weaknesses
One of the main knocks against Gallup lies in his ability to adjust. Gallup is a phenomenal route runner, but he loses his effectiveness when the play breaks down. They say life is all about adjustments, and that is oftentimes the case in football as well. Should Gallup develop the ability to adjust his routes, look for a team to take an early flier on him should the situation allow it.
Outside of his struggles to make things happen when everything is falling apart, Gallup is a very polished player. Another knock on Gallup, albeit minor, is his ability to block. Whether due to a lack of effort or a lack of strength, Gallup had difficulty engaging and holding some blocks. However, if Gallup is on the field, look for him to be the target opposed to someone in the backfield.
Next: Latest pre-Combine first round NFL Mock Draft
Draft Expectations
Outside of Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, the wide receivers in this class are all jumbled together. There are quite a few good ones, but it’s difficult to determine just how each and every one of them differ from one another. With a poor selection of receivers on the free agent market, look for a team to take a chance on Gallup earlier rather than later.