2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nate McCollum, WR, North Carolina

Player Data

Name, Jersey #	Nate McCollum, #6
School (Code)	University of North Carolina (NCUN)
DOB/Class Yr	12/06/2001, rSr 2025
Height, Weight	5085, 185
40 Yd Dash	4.46 est.
Position/Depth	F WR/ PR
Honors	ACC WR of the Week 09/18/2023, 10/09/2023
Season Viewed (yr)	2023
Games Watched	10-14-2023 University of Miami(FL) @ North Carolina09-16-2023 Minnesota @ North Carolina10-07-2023 Syracuse @ North Carolina
Scout Name / Date	Brinson Bagley, 09/08/2024

Per Year Stats (Most Recent First)

2024	1 rec., 2 yds, 0 TD, long 2, avg. 2
2023	44 rec., 469 yds, 1 TD, long 48, avg. 10.7
2022	60 rec, 655 yds, 3 TD’s, long 56, avg. 10.9
2021	13 rec., 108 yds, 1 TD, long 44, avg. 8.3
2020	2 rec., 15 yds, 0 TD’s, long 10, avg. 7.5

Player Summary:

Nate McCollum rSr has a very small frame, and measures below the NFL preference. He resides in the slot position at receiver and sections all portions of the field, running a varied route tree. He also has some experience at Punt Return at Georgia Tech. He wins with his light feet, toughness, awareness, and softness of hands. When against off coverage he can generate separation in crossers and even stack safeties deep, and easily identifies and sits at an uncovered vs zone coverage using good vision, and scheme identification. He is a two-handed catcher who possesses good hands that allow him to track the ball down deep, and toughness that allows him to hold on to the ball after a big hit. A gutsy receiver who is unafraid of the middle, and will catch the ball in stride, and identify a spot to move the chains. He possesses solid route running and has the tools to generate separation from a break. Additionally, he is a YAC generator that turns up field after the catch, and looks to fall forward after contact allowing him to be one of the primary screen-play targets for his teams. He does struggle with functional strength, and is not going to plow through any defenders. When he is in contact with a player, is often cast aside. As a blocker, he shows minimal effort and seems to limit his contact with the defender. He often waits for the defender to initiate, or run around him. He is not a player you run a screen towards unless he is the receiver. Furthermore, has shown diminished effort for route running when he is not a primary target. Because of his alignment and general off-ball stance, he does not face much press coverage. He does however struggle with sideline catches, as he is unable to correctly position his body to catch in bounds, or hold on to the ball when he does.

Scheme Fit:

Has the potential to be a slot receiver, best served as a Wes Welker, Julian Edelman type, short routes to move the chains, and occasional deep routes

Power Statement: 

Nate is a few inches short of a high day 3 grade. With improvement in effort to combine with his FBI and toughness, can find himself as a short-term project for an NFL roster.