Durkin’s Prospect Watch: WR Phillip Dorsett

(CBS) Last season, the Bears’ primary targets in the passing game were all had similar profiles — long, physical athletes who won with leverage rather than speed. Without the threat to win over the top, defenses played split-safety looks knowing the Bears couldn’t beat them over the top. Chicago has a major need for speed at the wide receiver position.

Today we take a look at one of the fastest receiver prospects in the 2015 draft: Miami’s Phillip Dorsett.

WR Phillip Dorsett (5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Miami)
40-yard dash: 4.25 (unofficial from Pro Day), 4.33 (Combine)
Three-cone: 6.7
Vertical: 38”
Bench: 13
Arm: 30 1/4”

Bio: Dorsett arrived in Coral Gables as a three-star wide receiver and kick returner prospect. He caught 12 touchdowns passes as a senior on St. Thomas Aquinas’ 5A state champion team.

As a true freshman in 2011, Dorsett played in all 12 games as a receiver and kick returner, making one start. He finished with 147 receiving yards and one touchdown. As a sophomore, he appeared in all 12 games as a receiver and kick/punt returner, making 10 starts, and led the team with 842 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Dorsett missed five games in 2013 with a partially torn MCL. He appeared in eight games and averaged 21 yards per reception. His senior season in 2014 was his most productive. He started 13 games and averaged an exceptional 24 yards per reception and caught 10 touchdowns.

In total, Dorsett appeared in 45 games, making 30 starts, finishing with 2,132 receiving yards, 17 touchdowns and a 17.2 yards-per-reception average. Heaveraged 19 yards per kick return.

Pro outlook: Dorsett was used out of the slot as well as on the perimeter in Miami’s pro-style offense. He ran the full route tree, which should ease his transition into an NFL offense.

Dorsett has game-changing speed that allows him to stack on top of cornerbacks and separate over the top. In addition to his elite long speed, he has rare change-of-direction and lateral quickness, which makes him a yard-after-the-catch threat on short and intermediate routes. His suddenness of the snap also made it difficult for cornerbacks to get a jam on him when lined up in press coverage.

Dorsett has fluid feet and loses very little speed heading into and coming out of his breaks by staying balanced. His speed allows him to quickly erase a defensive back’s cushion and gain separation whether continuing vertically or breaking off his route.

Dorsett’s still developing as a route runner. He has a tendency to rely purely on his speed to win matchups. In the run game, he’s not very physical with his downfield blocks. He was willing to come down to the slot and crack a safety, but he isn’t physically imposing on impact.

Draft projection: Dorsett is still developing as a receiver, but he has skills that simply can’t be taught. He should be selected in the top half of the second round and contribute immediately as a receiver and returner.


(chicago.cbslocal.com)