Jalil Farooq, WR, Maryland
Size:
Height: 6’2” | Weight: 275 lbs
Accomplishments:
All-Big-12 Honorable Mention (2023)
“Jalil Farooq is a versatile offensive weapon whose primary role is a receiver but can be utilized in different alignments to create advantageous matchups for him and his teammates.”
Strengths:
RAC
Contact balance
Strong hands
High IQ/route-running
Alignment-versatile
Lateral agility/reactionary athleticism
Concerns:
Catch radius
Ability to separate vertically
Consistently create separation
Film Analysis:
Jalil Farooq is a senior draft prospect who has consistently improved his role and production year over year in this Oklahoma offense. Farooq’s film shows a versatile alignment player who has an in-depth understanding of how to simply be an effective offensive player. At Oklahoma, they move Farooq everywhere from outside receiver to the slot to even taking snaps in their backfield, allowing him to use his best traits of short-area quickness, contact balance, and natural instincts that show in all facets of his game.
Starting with Farooq’s route-running, he has a diverse approach to how he can release to get upfield, which is dependent upon his alignment. When playing as an outside receiver, Farooq prefers to use speed with quick lateral movements and then get upfield quickly to get on top of the defensive back to try to dictate the pace and tempo of the route with quickness. When aligned in the slot, Farooq will slow his tempo, giving him the ability to read defenders, properly leverage himself, and then at the top of the route, burst to create separation. Farooq is a savvy route-runner who uses head fakes and will give signals to throw defensive backs off. Farooq is a high-IQ route-runner who understands the nuances and details of route-running to be able to get separation. Once Farooq catches the football, he shows his run-after-the-catch ability. Farooq has a sturdy lower half, which allows him to be a plus-level run-after-catch player. He shows good contact balance but also good short-area quickness and lateral agility to make defenders miss in space. Farooq is not a flat-out blazer, but he is a ball-carrier who can pick up significant yards with the ball in his hands.
Oklahoma utilizes Farooq in many different situations such as the screen game and quick passing game, but also as a wildcat quarterback in the backfield to get the ball in Farooq's hands as quickly as possible to let him make plays using his natural athletic ability. In regards to Farooq's catching ability, he appears to be a natural hands-catcher with strong hands. He can adjust and contort his body to be able to adjust to the football and bring it down in difficult situations. Farooq has good eye discipline for the football and can track the deep ball over his shoulder to haul in the pass. He also shows good concentration to be able to catch the football in high-traffic areas and bring down tough catches and opportunities to extend the drive. Overall, Farooq is a versatile offensive weapon whose primary goal in NFL offenses should be to get the ball in his hands quickly and allow him to use his athletic profile to pick up yards.
Farooq's main area of question as a draft prospect is his ability to separate vertically on vertical routes. Farooq's success comes from being able to track the football and catch the ball in contested-catch situations, but it doesn’t appear that he is a player who consistently separates vertically and puts space between himself and defenders. This may become an issue when Farooq has to play against high-level athletic corners who also have high-level ball skills and may limit his ability to be utilized as a vertical offensive threat within an offense. Farooq’s lack of vertical speed may limit him to being a short-to-intermediate threat and playing primarily the slot role for an NFL offense.
Overall, Farooq is a wide receiver who provides immediate value for NFL offenses that need a high-IQ, savvy route-runner to work the intermediate portions of the field with a player who is good in run-after-catch situations.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Written By: Keith Sanchez
