As expected by many people close to the Arizona State Sun Devils football program, wide receiver Jaelen Strong has decided to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft following his redshirt junior season. Strong accumulated exceptional totals during his junior campaign, totaling 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns on 75 catches. These numbers led the team and earned Strong first-team all PAC 12 honors, but were a bit below his numbers from a year ago.
Strong spent the first two years of his collegiate career at Pierce College, a community college in Los Angeles, before finding a home at Arizona State. In doing so, he has strung together two of the most impressive seasons in Sun Devil wide out history, ranking eighth in total receiving yards (2,184).
“Jaelen’s enormous impact was felt from the first day he stepped on the practice field with us more than 16 months ago,” ASU head coach Todd Graham said in a statement. “His work ethic, attention to detail and overall football IQ are just a few of his attributes that make him such a special talent.”
“It has been a great pleasure to watch him grow into the young man he has become – a leader off the field and a giver in his community. We look forward to one final game together and we wish him luck as he gets set to embark on the next chapter of his football career.”
NFL teams love tall, athletic receivers, and Strong has the entire package. His future looks extremely bright and many NFL draft analysts have projected Strong to land in the mid to late first round. Nonetheless, Strong must perform well at the NFL combine by running solid routes and a strong 40 time if he hopes to maintain his high rating.
*Section Photo credit to Ralph Fresco, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Mark J. Rebilas, USA Today Sports
