Brackins set to make leap to the NFL

The debate that has been raging for almost a year now is whether or not a high school senior might be good enough ever to get drafted by the NFL in the early rounds.

While questions might linger on whether or not a 17- or 18-year old might be able to make the leap, there have always been junior college coaches who say that they’ve coached players that were ready to make that jump.

Poplarville (Miss.) Pearl River five-star receiver Larry Brackins is ready to test that theory.

After weeks of speculation and rumors, Rivals.com has confirmed that Brackins, the No. 1 junior college player in the nation, has signed a contract with an agent and will test the waters in the NFL draft this spring.

“People all the time ask me if he can be an impact player on the next level,” Pearl River coach Tim Hatten said. “I always ask them at which level – college or in the NFL. It might sound crazy, but I can’t think of a better receiver in the SEC than him right now. You watch TV and scout prospects from all over country, how many are better than him that you can think of?”

The answer is slim and likely none.

Brackins has a body of a tight end at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, but he is gifted with gazelle-like quickness, a vertical leap that would make LeBron James jealous and stickier hands than Wynona Rider. In 12 games this season, he caught 55 passes for 1,117 yards and 10 scores, while also logging some time on defense as a safety.

“He's the best wide receiver I've seen, and I coached high school in central Florida for 14 years,” Hatten said. “He can do it all, and he’s amazing. He’s simply the best.”

If you don’t believe Hatten, just ask respected junior college coach Troy Morrell of Butler County Community College in Kansas. Morrell has led the Grizzlies to four consecutive Jayhawk Conference championships, a 53-7 record overall and three national championships, plus he’s coached several receivers that have made it to the NFL.

So when he says that Brackins is special, it means something.

“I think ‘freak’ is about the only word that I can think of to describe him,” Morrell said.

“He’s 6-5, 220-plus pounds and runs faster than anybody on the field. I don’t think there is anybody that can cover him. He’s special. He’s as good as it gets.”

Morrell knows first-hand how deadly Brackins is. Against Butler County in the junior college national championship game, Brackins had 11 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns in Pearl River’s 35-14 victory.

The standout receiver earned most valuable player honors for the efforts, and after realizing he’s not going to qualify academically on the next level, he’s ready to take his chances at playing in the NFL.

“He’s ready,” Hatten said.

Chris Landry, a veteran NFL scout, having served with the Cleveland Browns, Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans, thinks there are some obstacles that Brackins will have to overcome.

“Brackins is a big raw receiver with good but not exceptional playing speed,” Landry said. “He is a real project and will struggle with the learning part of the game. I feel he is worth a late draft pick after further investigation and a spot on an NFL developmental squad. My guess right now would be a fifth or sixth-round round pick but I could alter that either way with further exposure.”

Landry says some teams might shy away from Brackins because he did not play at a four-year school.

“NFL teams will be concerned about his learning capabilities since he cannot get into a four year school, so that will affect his draft status, but it is still possible for him to surface down the line like Joe Horn did several years ago,” Landry said. “Horn went into the CFL and eventually developed with the Chiefs and now with the Saints. But, it took him further time to develop since he lacked the college competition and development. This could be a similar situation for Larry.”

Still college programs from coast-to-coast would have liked an opportunity to get Brackins on their campus. The junior college All-American was considering four schools – Florida State, LSU, USC and Texas A&M – before signing with James “Bus” Cook Jr.

Cook negotiated the first $100 million contract in NFL history for Brett Favre, who became the highest paid player in the history of the NFL. With Bus’s experience, Steve McNair became the highest paid rookie in the history of the NFL, as well as the highest paid player in NFL history over his first three years – McNair will see $23.75 million over the deal’s first three years.

It’s still not clear whether or not Brackins will strike it rich like Cook’s other agents, but he’s heading into this uncharted territory ready to take the leap of faith into the NFL. Only time will now tell if he’s ready to make the jump and land on his feet.