Draft Profile: James Proche

February 23, 2020 /

  • Height: 5’10”
  • Weight: 196lb
  • College: SMU
  • Tape watched: Temple, FAU, Memphis
  • NFL Comparison: Danny Amendola

Pros

  • Hands
    James Proche has a claim for the best hands in the draft. He tied for the lead in the FBS with 111 receptions, and became known as “Sticky Hands” at the Senior Bowl.
  • Body Control
    Proche is excellent adjusting to throws that are off target. Whether it is in the air, across the middle, or on the sideline, Proche finds the ball and gets his body in position to make the play. He is great in contested catch situations if he can keep defenders on his back, although with his stature and shorter arm length he is limited to an extent.
  • Quickness
    Fast feet and explosiveness off the line of scrimmage allow Proche to get to the end of his routes quickly. Not a great run-after-catch guy, he is able to create space before the catch with his burst
  • Route Running
    Proche has good burst and speed-patience to vary his route stems and keep defenders guessing. His route breaks are crisp and he can put his foot in the dirt and accelerate through his cuts.

Cons

  • Speed
    James Proche has very short, stiff strides when he sprints. He doesn’t run away from people and struggles to outrun man coverage, even with great route running.
  • Size
    He’s not the smallest receiver by any means, but his shorter stature and smaller frame limits what he can do against the NFL’s shift to long, rangy corner backs. Struggles with press coverage due to his inability to shed arms and break hands off him.
  • YAC
    For a receiver that will ultimately end up a slot receiver in the NFL, Proche is a pretty easy target to tackle. With poor contact balance and a lack of elusiveness, Proche is more of a move-the-sticks receiver.

Overview

James Proche is a peculiar blend of receiving talent. While he lacks the athleticism and size to play on the outside in the NFL, he showcases great hands and a knack for making big plays on the football. Proche thrives underneath safeties with quickness to get open immediately. In a loaded receiver class, however, teams may look elsewhere for bigger impact slot receivers.