Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey is widely regarded by most draft analysts as one of the more intriguing wide receiver prospects in the draft class. But despite his impressive production this past season, one narrative has followed him throughout the entirety of his collegiate career.
As a white wide receiver, the vast majority of football fans believe that a few stereotypes are true about McConkey. Most say that he is a great route runner. Most say that he does most of his work on inside routes, and struggles on the outside. And most believe that he is perhaps a below-average athlete compared to some of his peers in the draft class.
It’s a stereotype that has plagued a number of the great wide receivers in the NFL. In a recent interview with The Spun, McConkey spoke about the narrative, saying that he believes that his Pro Day and film on tape speaks for itself, and that he can run every route asked of him.
“I think some people will say that, but I think I hopefully broke that narrative and the Pro Day,” said McConkey. “I thought I ran well and showed I can run routes inside and outside. It is what it is. People can say what they want. It doesn’t bother me.”
To McConkey’s credit, he did run extremely well at the NFL Combine, running a 4.39 40-yard dash, which was tied for the sixth-fastest time of any wideout at the combine.
That should have killed any narratives out there of him being a below-average athlete. But as McConkey said, critics are going to say what they are going to say, whether the narrative is fair or not.
[The Spun]
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.