The NFL received a massive influx of talent at the receiver position following the 2020 draft, and the 2021 class will provide similar results. While Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith are getting a ton of attention, the receiver class is very deep. Guys found on days two and three will provide teams with solid performers at the receiver spot. One of those players is Marquez Stevenson. The Houston product is a speedy receiver that can break a long play in a split second. Unfortunately, we couldn’t see Stevenson’s full playstyle because of the poor quarterback play that Houston had. Maybe in the NFL, he can reach his potential.
Make sure to check out all of our other 2021 NFL Draft Scouting Reports.
Player Bio
Name: Marquez Stevenson
Jersey: #5
Position: Wide Receiver
School: Houston
Class: Redshirt Senior
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 182 lbs
Route Tree (6.75/10)
Stevenson’s elite speed and acceleration greatly benefit him in getting off the line of scrimmage, planting one foot in the dirt, and going. Slant routes and other underneath routes where he can use his knowledge of finding holes in zone coverage, catching the ball, and then weaving his way in and out from the defense work in his favor. In the NFL, he will have a more dynamic route tree as the Houston offense was primarily spread based with not many route combinations. There is a lot to work with here, but also a lot of room to grow.
Hands (6.5/10)
Perhaps the closest player you can comp Stevenson to is Marquez Valdes-Scantling, which is weird because they have the same name. Along with that, they are speedy receivers who both have some issues with some inconsistent drops. While Stevenson doesn’t have the drop issues that Valdes-Scantling has, Stevenson is more of a body catcher than a hands catcher. He will clamp the ball to his chest instead of catching it. As a result, Stevenson has 15 career drops during his collegiate career.
Contested Catch (5/10)
Stevenson has an adequate frame in comparison to Smith. Unfortunately, his contested catch ability leaves a lot to be desired. Whether it be a discrepancy or the fact that the quarterback couldn’t get the ball in a place for him to catch it, Stevenson has an issue in these situations.
RAC (9.25/10)
Here is the part of the report where Stevenson’s strengths are painted clear. When Stevenson gets his hands on the ball, the defense better watch out. He has game-breaking speed and can beat the defense in a second if they aren’t careful. Stevenson is quick to get to his top-speed and can weave in and out from defenders, and even if a defender has an angle on him, Stevenson can make them miss because of his elite speed and acceleration after the catch. As a result, Stevenson should be manufactured some touches in the screen or reverse game and on kickoffs. He averaged over 25 yards per return and had three touchdowns on kickoff returns at Houston. He won’t run over people with the ball in his hands, but his electrifying speed more than gives him enough to make a difference after the catch.
Speed (9.75/10)
Stevenson has said he runs in the low 4.3’s. It shows up on film as the first thing that pops off the screen when watching him. No one can catch him in the open field, and he makes defensive coordinators have fits in trying to find ways to stop him. In off-man coverage, the defenders aren’t quick enough to latch onto Stevenson in coverage, and he blows right by them for big gains.
Fluidity (9/10)
Stevenson’s quick foot speed and acceleration give him an advantage right off of the line of scrimmage. He runs crisp routes and seems to always blow right by the defense.
Release (7/10)
Stevenson aligned primarily out of the slot with some outside reps sprinkled in. As said earlier, in off-man coverage, the defender couldn’t get anywhere close to Stevenson as he ran right by them with his elite speed. So, how can the defense hold him in check? Press him. Stevenson struggles against press coverage almost as much as he struggles in contested catch situations. If he’s met with a jab from the defensive back off the line of scrimmage, he struggles in the hand-fighting afterward to gain any separation.
Vertical Receiving (8.75/10)
Speed, speed, and more speed. Stevenson can blow right by the defense with his acceleration and burst right up the middle of the field for big chunks of yardage. His vertical receiving paired with his RAC ability will give opposing defensive coordinators nightmares.
Athleticism (8.5/10)
Stevenson has great speed, acceleration, foot speed, and short-area quickness. Unfortunately, his play strength drops this grade below a nine as he doesn’t win in contested catch situations and against press coverage off the line of scrimmage.
Blocking (3.5/5)
Stevenson is a very competitive blocker. He will fight with the defender and even be the lead-blocker on some screen plays to pave open lanes for his teammates. His play strength lacks a bit here, which hinders his ability against stronger linebackers and cornerbacks that work in the slot.
Injury (2.5/5)
The injury sheet for Stevenson is very concerning. In 2016, he missed all but two games with a broken collarbone. He missed all of the 2017 season with a torn ACL, and he missed some time during the 2020 season with an ankle injury. Being this dinged up already is very concerning heading into the NFL.
Player Summary
There are a lot of different opinions on Stevenson. Coming from Houston, he wasn’t in much of a pro-ready offense. Thankfully, there appears to be a lot to work with in terms of his route-running, speed, acceleration, and RAC ability. His faults come with his inconsistencies with his hands in regards to body-catching and his contested catch ability. His checkered injury history is also a big concern. Stevenson could very well be one of the steals of the draft on day three for a team looking for a slot receiver that can turn a short throw into a big-play in the blink of an eye. It will be interesting to see how much the quarterback woes for Houston impacted Stevenson’s performance during his time for the Cougars. It seems as though we will find out during the 2021 season how much those potential woes in his game are really on him, the offensive system, or the quarterback play at Houston. Overall, there is a lot to work with. Stevenson is a very intriguing player on day three of the draft.
Final Grade (76.5/100): Early Fourth Round
Check us out on our socials:
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk
Instagram: @ptsportstalk
Follow Mason Thompson on Twitter @Thompson22Mason
Main Image Credit:
Embed from Getty Images
