BCS Championship: Scouting WR Kelvin Benjamin

Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports

The Giants are infatuated with sizable receivers. Standing at 6’5 235, Florida State’s Kelvin Benjamin certainly fulfills the requisite qualifications.

Although just a redshirt sophomore, Benjamin is 22 years of age and a viable candidate to enter this April’s draft. His physical traits make you salivate — size, strength and crisp athleticism; but he’s raw as a football player. This is includes inconsistent effort, predictable route running, and a distinct tendency for drops. While Benjamin has produced huge games against elite competition, his skill package will need refinement for the next level. NFL corners are physical with ball skills as well, negating to a degree his innate advantages.

Benjamin is a freak with ball in flight, attacking the football at its peak height. I’m not sure what his wingspan is, but it must be rather substantial… he’s got inspector gadget “go-go gadget” arms. Combine that with an off the charts vertical and a frame to ward off, and what you have is a nearly unstoppable red zone target at the collegiate level. Behind lengthy strides, Benjamin also possesses imposing long speed.

If Benjamin does decide to declare, his 40-time could ultimately determine his ceiling draft slot — projected 4.55 by WalterFootball.com. From the perspective of “potential”, Benjamin is a superior prospect to Mike Evans. But “seasoning” is a different story. Bleacher Report’s lead draft writer, Matt Miller, compares Benjamin to Alshon Jeffery, as both have high set shoulders and elite playmaking ability with ball-in-air. Benjamin bears some resemble to former Giant Plaxico Burress in terms of physical packaging.