WR Rankings: Dontayvion Wicks

July 19, 2022July 19, 2022 CFB Saturdays Staff

As we review the WR rankings, players have had the opportunity to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Dontayvion Wicks, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football WR Rankings here.

Virginia wide receiver, Dontayvion Wicks had a breakout season in 2021. He had six 100 yard games during the season, with five of those coming in conference play. Wicks led the Cavaliers with 1,203 yards and 9 touchdowns on his 57 catches. His 21.1 yard per catch average was the highest for any player in the country with at least 50 catches. He is a proven downfield threat that will continue to be an impact player in the ACC.

Wicks has the downfield speed and ball skills to make big plays in the passing game. He has the long speed to get behind the defense with ease. Once the ball is thrown, Wicks does an excellent job of tracking the ball and shielding the ball from defenders. He catches the ball cleanly and is able to fight through contact to make the play. Wicks is able to get downfield consistently and makes big plays downfield as a matter of habit.

Wicks is much more than just a deep threat. He has a good build at 6’1″ 205 lbs and has the strength and savvy to do damage underneath the coverage. He finds holes in the coverage and is able to exploit them to pick up easy yardage for the offense. Once he makes the catch underneath, Wicks does a good job of fighting for extra yardage and padding on yards after the catch. He can hurt the defense at every level, making him a difficult receiver to prepare for.

Dontayvion Wicks had a breakout season in 2021 and has the tools to build on that moving forward. He has the long speed and ball skills to take the top off of the defense. Wicks also has the feel for getting open on intermediate and short routes. He is a strong receiver who can fight off defenders and pickup yards after the catch. Wicks was an excellent receiver last year and could raise his game to a higher level in 2022.

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