2014 NFL Draft: Ole Miss’ Donte Moncrief a first round pick?

Former Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Donte Moncrief had one of the most impressive showings at last month’s NFL combine when he ran the third fastest 40 among receivers with a blazing 4.4 and complemented that with a 39.5-inch vertical jump and an 11-foot broad jump, the best of all receivers.

His performance boosted his stock in May’s NFL draft from a third or fourth round pick, but it wasn’t enough to quite move him into the first round mix according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper.

"“Donte Moncrief is an enigma,” Kiper said via Parrish Alford of the Daily Journal. “He’s an incredible talent … big, athletic and fast. You would have thought he would have been able to dominate college cornerbacks. I watched him a lot and kept waiting. I had a high grade for him at the beginning of the year, in August, anticipating a top 10 or 15 pick for him, but he did not materialize.”"

The presence of SEC Freshman of the Year Laquon Treadwell resulted in a dip in production from Moncrief’s sophomore totals when he 66 catches for 979 and 10 touchdowns compared to 59 catches for 938 yards and six touchdowns as a junior.

But a freshman should not look better than a potential first round pick, even one as talented as Treadwell who could be a top 15 pick in the 2016 draft, but he simply did not stand out on film as often as he should have based on his 2012 totals and combine numbers.

In a deep class of wide receivers Moncrief may find himself on the outside looking in for the first round, but he has raised his stock from a third or fourth round pick to one who likely hears his name called in the second round.