Being born right in the city he played his college ball in Columbus, Ohio, Garett Wilson and his family packed their bags and moved to Austin, TX when he was just 11-years-old.
Once the Garett's moved to Texas, the former Buckeye standout turned into a five-star prospect at the historic Lake Travis High School and became one of the favorite targets for Justin Fields and later on C.J. Stroud. Along with potential first-round pick Chris Olave and 2023 prospect Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Wilson may have been the most electric out of the bunch.
In 2021, the speedy wideout hauled in 70 receptions for over 1000 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was named Second Team All-Big Ten before deciding to opt-out of the 2022 Rose Bowl and prepare for the NFL Draft.
Measurables: 6'0" 180 LBS
School: The Ohio State
2021 Stats: 70 catches, 1007 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns, one rushing touchdown
Accolades: First Team All-Big Ten (2020) Second Team All-Big Ten (2021)
Strengths: Wilson is a speedy wideout who despite his stature, is an explosive athlete who can get by defenders and can extend plays after the catch. Although he sometimes plays down to his 4.39 40 speed, Wilson has a second gear, making it easy for him to beat any soft coverage. The former Buckeye can also get up vertically and has amazing hands which makes him versatile and can be utilized on the boundary and in the slot.
Weakness: Although Wilson has few flaws in his game, his size can be a major concern when going up against some of the bigger and stronger cornerbacks in the NFL, especially ones who are physical and excel at press coverage. His route running still needs a bit of work since he relied heavily on his athleticism and raw talent in college but that can all be ironed once he gets under the tutelage of pro coaches.
NFL Comp: Wilson and his skill set draw a lot of comparisons to former Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton who had a similar 40-time to Wilson (4.34) and relied on his natural athletic gifts to create separation. Unlike Hilton, Wilson is a lot more polished as a route runner coming out of school and has natural technique at the position. With both wideouts being similar in size, Hilton's career was derailed by the injury bug which again, is the biggest red flag for tOSU standout.
What the experts say:
"Wilson’s game is lacking in polish, but some scouts believe his play strength and run-after-catch ability make him a more valuable draft commodity than Ohio State teammate Chris Olave. He’s a linear, inside/outside receiver with trouble eluding press cleanly and is very inefficient with routes over the first two levels. His long speed is good, but the acceleration burst is what makes him such an effective separator in space. He might not be smooth getting there, but he has eye-popping ball skills when it’s time to go make a play. Wilson needs to work on his ability to consistently uncover on all three levels, but he has the traits to become a very good WR2 if he tightens up areas of concern." - Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
"I have six wide receivers ranked as top-25 prospects in this class, with Wilson as the clear No. 1 guy. He has only average size (6-0, 186), but he is a three-level threat due to his athleticism and ball skills. What separates him the most is his ability to create space before and after the catch." - Dane Brugler, The Athletic
Tape:
Follow Jasper Jones on Twitter: @jonesj2342
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram