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Jake Wieneke
College: South Dakota State
Position: Wide receiver
Height/Weight: 6-4/221
College Stats: 73 receptions for 1,404 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014, 72 receptions for 1,472 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015, 78 receptions for 1,316 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2016, 65 receptions for 965 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2017. Three-time FCS All-American; Four-time First Team All-MVFC
Productive doesn’t even begin to describe Jake Wieneke’s college career. If it weren’t for Cooper Kupp, he would be the most productive FCS receiver we’ve seen in quite some time.
Wieneke was simply unstoppable during his time at South Dakota State. He burst onto the scene as a freshman, finishing runner-up to Chase Edmonds for the Jerry Rice Award in 2014, and was incredibly consistent for the Jackrabbits. His career culminated with him setting the FCS record for most consecutive games with a catch at 53.
The thing that Wieneke was most known for was his ability to find the end zone. He averaged more than a touchdown per game as a Jackrabbit, finishing his collegiate career with 59 touchdowns. It didn’t matter who the quarterback was, he was going to get open and take it the distance.
Pros:
Wieneke is one of the best jump ball receivers in this class. He has the size and the leaping ability to outjump defensive backs for balls, making him a terror in the red zone. That was part of the reason he was able to finish his career with so many touchdowns, as quarterbacks would look to him over fellow Jackrabbit Dallas Goedert.
Additionally, scouts consider him to be an excellent route runner. He doesn’t dip his shoulders and tip his routes early like so many other receivers and doesn’t break off his routes too early either.
Cons:
Speed is the biggest thing that might hold Wieneke back at the next level. He did not clock an impressive time at the NFL Combine and can have a hard time getting off the ball. Wieneke is unlikely to beat most defensive backs deep with his top-end speed, and that means he will have to be a possession receiver/red zone specialist in the NFL.
Final Thoughts
Wieneke will make it onto a roster, but he might not be drafted. NFL scouts always harp the importance of speed, and he just doesn’t have much of it. I believe he will end up being a sixth- or seventh-round selection with a team using him as a short-yardage receiver.