Jaelen Strong To Forego Senior Season

On Monday afternoon, Arizona State released news that their star wide receiver Jaelen Strong would indeed forego his senior year at Arizona State and enter the 2015 NFL Draft.

The redshirt junior put up some tremendous numbers this year in which he led the Sun Devils in every receiving category which included 75 receptions, 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was even one of 10 wide receivers in the nation to be nominated for the Biletnikoff Award.

The 6-foot-3 Strong brought down a Hail Mary pass from Mike Bercovici to win the game against USC in a highlight reel that will be shown to Arizona State fans for years to come.

Oct 4, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA: Arizona State Sun Devils receiver Jaelen Strong (21) catches a 53-yard touchdown pass while defended by Southern California Trojans linebacker Hayes Pullard (10) on the final play of the game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Arizona State defeated USC 38-34. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Fans were becoming accustomed to his ability to jump above taller defenders and corral sideline fade passes. He would catch highlight pass after highlight pass and his departure will significantly impact the Sun Devils’ offense next season.

Strong has been regarded to as a late-first round pick and according to Mel Kiper he is the number two wide receiver, but it will all come down to how well he does in the pre-draft combine.

Via CBS Sports, Strong is the 20th best prospect and the fourth best wide receiver prospect in the upcoming draft. Strong has also been compared to a speedy wide receiver on the New Orleans Saints, Marques Colston. 

Arizona State fans will not be too happy that their number one wide receiver will be leaving early, but they can rejoice when they hear this in late-April… “With the … pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the … select Jaelen Strong, Arizona State University!”