One of the most discussed receivers in this year’s class is UCF’s Breshad Perriman. He comes from great stock as his father, Brett Perriman played in the NFL during the 80’s and 90’s. Because 
the NFL Draft is so receiver top-heavy (White, Cooper, and Parker), it’s a good idea to familiar with more of these potential playmakers. There wasn’t a lot of Central Florida game film available to me, but I viewed three of his 2014 games against East Carolina, NC State, and Akron to get a better idea of what skills the young man brings to the NFL.
WR Breshad Perriman, UCF 6’ 2” 212 lbs.
Cons: Like many receivers, Perriman becomes a bit lazy if the ball isn’t thrown his way. He needs to become a better-rounded teammate by blocking for fellow receivers once they catch the ball and backs on running plays. The wide our has some issues with contested, jump balls and gets knocked around more than a man his size should. There were a few times that he had concentration lapses and tended to round out his routes, instead of running them cleanly. The receiver did not participate in the Combine due to a minor hamstring injury, so some draftniks feel that he isn’t as competitive as he should be.
Pros: Having a father that played the same position in the NFL gives the younger Perriman a distinct advantage in how to prepare for the transition to the NFL. The receiver lines up mostly on the outside, but can also work the slot. Each release off the line of scrimmage looks the same whether it’s a go route, slant, or crossing pattern. He gets a good release off the line, striking with his hands and/or using his quick feet. There was one particular play where Perriman swatted the corner back away in full stride on the way to the end zone. He loves to sell patterns to the inside, only to cut back outside hugging the sidelines. The combination of his stutter steps and loose hips makes it difficult for defensive backs to maintain tight coverage on him.
The wide out tracks the ball well in the air, adjusting his body to make the difficult catches look effortless. He usually attacks the ball at its highest point by leaping higher than the defenders covering him and does a great job shielding the ball so only he can get to it. Perriman usually establishes separation with five yards of the line of scrimmage and does his most damage snaring the pigskin in stride. The receiver has soft hands and always catches the ball away from his body. His catch radius is impressive with the ability to contort to most throws.
Unlike most receivers, Perriman loves to make catches in the middle of the gridiron. He takes good angles, making the first man miss, by reading the field with his good vision. The wide out has a great combination of short-term burst and long speed. Perriman is hard to bring down while fighting for extra yardage with strong leg drive.
Overall thoughts: Perriman is an exciting prospect from the not-so exciting Central Florida program. He has the athleticism to become at least a dynasty WR2, but will need to improve what to do when he doesn’t have the ball. If the playmaker ends up on an NFL team with a huge need at WR1 or WR2, Perriman could start from day one and never look back.
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