Saturday, May 2, 2015

Rams draft profile (6th round, pick #201): Bud Sasser, WR, Mizzou

STLToday
Bud Sasser, 6'2" 210
WR, Missouri

Rankings
NFLDraftScout: #283 player overall, #37 wide receiver. Seventh round to free-agent grade.
Nawrocki: #67 WR. Grade: 4.50, solid free agent who could be invited to a training camp.

Kiper: Not in top 300 players. Kiper ranked at least 49 WRs, the last one from Stony Brook.
Draft Countdown: #46 WR. Late-round / free agent grade.
Sports Illustrated: Not in top 300 players. SI ranked at least 43 WRs.
Scouts Inc: #310 player overall, #44 WR. Grade: 33, borderline draft prospect. 

Biography/Honors
2014: Started all 14 games. 77 catches for 1,003 yards (13.0 ypc) and 12 TDs. Three 100-yard games. Scored TD in SEC Championship and 2 TDs in bowl game vs. Minnesota.
2013: Played in 14 games, starting nine. 26 catches for 361 yards (13.9 ypc) and one TD. Also threw a 40-yard TD.
2012: Played in 12 games, starting six. 10 catches for 231 yards (23.1 ypc) and a TD.
2011: Played in nine games, with 3 catches for 16 yards (5.3 ypc).
2010: Redshirted.

Academics: Majored in general studies.
Twitter: @budsasser21


Injuries

None listed
  
Pro Day Stats
(not invited to NFL Combine. Combine averages for WRs in parentheses)

40-yard dash: 4.53 (4.50)
10-yard split: 1.59
Vertical: 34.5" (36")
Broad: 10'0" (10'0")
3-cone: 6.88 (6.98)
Shuttle: 4.38 (Would have been 4th-slowest WR, right behind Dorial Green-Beckham. Average was 4.21)
Bench: 18 (Would have tied for second-best. Average was 14.)

Scouting Report
Pluses: Big body who causes matchup problems out of the slot. Average athlete but has good body control and is outstanding at tracking the ball. Makes plays against tight coverage. Textbook hands catcher. Weapon in the red zone. Best shot is with a team needing a big body in the slot or a zone-beating possession receiver.

Minuses: Can't shake press coverage. Doesn't have the quick twitch or foot speed to escape long-armed corners lined up to his outside. Doesn't have much deep speed and doesn't gain much after the catch. Doesn't use his size well enough. Doesn't make plays over smaller corners he should make and lets himself get pinned on the sideline. Becomes a spectator when QB breaks the pocket instead of helping him. 

Compares to: (don't get mad) Brian Quick

Fun Facts
In a 2012 game against Vanderbilt, Bud had one catch for 101 yards and a TD. I'll let you figure out how he did that. I'll wait.* 

Oh, and I can't leave this out. Bud's given name is Larry. He's nicknamed after the King of Beers. His sisters' names are Brandi and Tequila!

RamView
Sasser reminds me a ton of Brian Quick as a rookie, or at least his fault of not using his size well enough. Sasser's also two inches and 10 lbs. smaller. I don't think he has the speed to be the big slot receiver I was hoping to add in this draft, but if he busts his hump on special teams he'll at least give Chris Givens a run for his money.

Sources: University of Missouri Athletics, NFL.com, Columbia (Mo.) Tribune

* Bud had an 85-yard TD reception and recovered a pass fumbled by a teammate and advanced it 16 yards. Those go in the book as receiving yards, so, 1 catch for 101 yards and a TD.

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