Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
2025 NFL Draft Profile: South Alabama WR Jamaal Pritchett
Sep 28, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; South Alabama Jaguars wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett (2) runs after a catch against LSU Tigers cornerback Jyaire Brown (17) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

BACKGROUND

Height: 5’8"

Weight: 175 pounds

High School / Previous School: Jackson HS / Tuskegee University

Hometown: Jackson, Alabama

Jamaal Pritchett’s journey toward stardom and notoriety in Mobile has been anything but linear. The Alabama native began his college football career at Division II Tuskegee University, where he made an immediate impact as a true freshman. There, he hauled in 27 receptions for 488 yards and three touchdowns across nine games during the 2021 season.

Looking to prove himself at a higher level, Pritchett walked on at South Alabama, appearing in eight games during the 2022 season. He recorded two receptions for 24 yards and contributed on special teams as well.

It was the 2023 season that truly set the tone for the rest of Pritchett’s career as a Jaguar. He earned All-Sun Belt Conference Honorable Mention honors after leading the team with eight touchdowns and posting 883 receiving yards on 57 catches.

Pritchett’s 2024 season—and final campaign in a Jaguars uniform—cemented his legacy in South Alabama football history. He led the Sun Belt Conference in both receptions (91) and receiving yards (1,126), finishing at the top of the leaderboard in both categories. His nine receiving touchdowns tied the program’s single-season record.

Following his standout 2024 season, Pritchett earned an invitation to the Senior Bowl and turned heads at his Pro Day on March 25, 2025, where he clocked an impressive 4.42 in the 40-yard dash and a 9'9" broad jump.

STRENGTHS

Over the course of three seasons at South Alabama, Jamaal Pritchett’s skill set evolved into that of a true utility player within Major Applewhite’s offense. He lined up all over the field—outside at receiver, in the slot, and even in the backfield on occasion.

As a pass catcher, Pritchett displays sure hands, a trait backed up by his 91 receptions in 2024—which led the Sun Belt Conference by a wide margin, with the next closest receiver trailing by 25 catches. Even when ball placement isn’t ideal, he consistently demonstrates the ability to adjust and make difficult grabs.

Pritchett was often put in motion in a variety of ways—from full-crossing motions to return motions and everything in between. Designed touches were a staple in his usage, particularly bubble screens and other quick-hitting concepts. It’s on these plays that one of his best traits stands out: his vision.

The combination of Pritchett’s agility and his ability to read blocks makes him a consistent play-maximizer. He has a knack for squeezing extra yards out of plays—setting up blockers, pivoting into open space, and getting north-south quickly after the catch.

That same quality shines on special teams. As a punt returner, Pritchett has proven dangerous with the ball in his hands. In a 2024 game against Northwestern State, he returned a punt 61 yards for a touchdown. After fielding the punt, his vision was on full display—two subtle jab steps created space, and one broken tackle later, he was gone. His speed and spatial awareness were evident as he went on racing down the sideline for the score (see the :19 mark in the video linked below).

WHAT’S NEXT

Jamaal Pritchett has completed all of his pre-draft activities and now awaits the 2025 NFL Draft, which will take place from April 24 to April 26.

More Reading Material From G5 Football Daily


This article first appeared on G5 Football on SI and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

General Sports

Promising MSU Freshman is Ahead of the Curve

Michigan State has a rather underrated, yet promising freshman class, with several already having impressed through spring and fall camp. One of those is former four-star prospect Derrick Simmons, an interior defensive lineman who could see some impactful snaps this season. Michigan State coach Jonathan Smith was high on Simmons on the very first day of fall camp, saying "he fit right in." Smith spoke on Simmons again on Monday, detailing what it is about the freshman defensive lineman that impresses him. "He (Simmons) physically has the tools, and he's close to playing what you need to play in this Big Ten at the line of scrimmage," Smith said. "Smart, and he plays with great effort. I mean, he's actually a little bit more elusive for his size, (for) interior D-linemen. Elusive, he has a little bit of a pass rush game." "I think Derrick Simmons is not your normal freshman." - Michigan State defensive line coach Legi Suiaunoa Smith's claim was validated by Simmons' position coach, Legi Suiaunoa, who recognizes that the freshman already belongs. "I think Derrick Simmons is not your normal freshman," Suiaunoa said. "Does that mean that he's better than the guys we have in our system now? No, that just means that he's a freshman that's come here, he's got a college-ready body. Physically, he's able to do the things that we can get done, which is different than most freshmen. So, yeah, he's different in that way. "So, him, I think his approach to things, he's big, he's strong, he's smart. I think he's really hungry, (which) is giving him a chance. We got to develop him fundamentally in terms of just how to strike things and certain reactions. Things are a little bit faster here, and guys are a little bit bigger here at this level here. But as a freshman coming in and some of the tools he already possesses, I mean, that's giving him a step ahead than most freshmen that come in that way." When you have a freshman who is showing he is beyond most first-years, it reaffirms the fact that you struck gold on the recruiting trail by bringing in a piece that can immediately make an impact for you right out of high school. The Spartans could have something special with Derrick Simmons. Don't miss any of our content when you follow the official Spartan Nation page on Facebook, Spartan Nation, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE, and be sure to share your thoughts on Simmons when you join our community group, Go Green Go White, WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE. Don't forget to give us a follow on X @MSUSpartansOnSI as well.

Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice
NFL

Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice

Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble, so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.

Commanders have major hang-up preventing them from paying Terry McLaurin what he's due
NFL

Commanders have major hang-up preventing them from paying Terry McLaurin what he's due

It’s been two weeks since Washington Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin publicly revealed his trade request, and a resolution doesn’t appear to be in sight. Thanks to ESPN’s John Keim, we’re starting to get more insight into how the Commanders are approaching negotiations…and how they run counter to their star wide receiver’s financial desires. As we’ve assumed all along, the Commanders are wary of giving McLaurin a lucrative contract that would extend well into the player’s 30s. As Keim notes, the Commanders “rely heavily on analytics,” and those numbers aren’t particularly kind to receivers on the wrong side of 30. They may be onto something. Per ESPN Research, over the past five years, only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game (that number jumps to six players if you adjust for 60-plus receiving yards). Further, the team can simply point to the NFL landscape, as other teams are also clearly wary of paying aging wideouts. Among the 24 active wide receivers who are attached to the most guaranteed money, only Tyreek Hill was older than 30 when the deal was signed. McLaurin has continually pointed to his lack of mileage despite his age; he barely played during his first two years at Ohio State, meaning he may not have the same wear and tear as similar players his age. McLaurin is also naturally pointing to the stat sheet, as the receiver has continually produced despite uncertain QB play, uncertain ownership and a handful of different coaching staffs. Per Keim, the Commanders don’t want to pay McLaurin based on his past performance, with the front office preferring to shape any future contracts based on his projections for age-31-plus seasons. The organization also doesn’t want to set a new precedent by paying McLaurin, as it could convince future veterans to push for lucrative deals in their 30s. While McLaurin has taken the drastic measure of requesting a trade out of Washington, the organization is still convinced they have leverage in this showdown. After all, the player is still under contract for the 2025 campaign, meaning McLaurin will have to forfeit game checks if he sits out games. The team could even choose to slap him with the franchise tag next offseason (which could come in north of $30M), meaning they’re in full control of the player’s fate moving forward. The team is also skeptical that another suitor is going to willingly pay McLaurin the type of money he’s seeking. Per Keim, there’s doubts around the league about whether another team would be willing to meet the receiver’s demands. Even if a clear suitor does emerge, Keim makes it clear that Washington’s front office won’t give the star away without receiving a haul. We heard recently that McLaurin wasn’t necessarily seeking a deal that matched fellow 2019 draftee D.K. Metcalf‘s deal with the Steelers. However, Keim says Metcalf’s contract has generally served as a guide for McLaurin, but it’s uncertain whether the Commanders wideout is looking to match the AAV ($33M) or total guarantees ($60M). Ultimately, one source believes the Commanders may agree to pay McLaurin a contract that will pay $28M per year. Of course, it’s uncertain if the player would even accept that offer. If that hypothetical maximum offer doesn’t end in a signing, a divorce may be the logical next step.

Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
NFL

Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season

Former New York Giants superstar and current free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. emerged in the headlines on Tuesday afternoon. The 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to shut down a fake report that he was retiring from the NFL. Beckham spent the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins in a very limited role, recording just nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games. However, he was a solid contributor as a Baltimore Raven the year prior, showing that he can still provide some production at this point in his career. Given that OBJ has no interest in calling it quits just yet, let’s look at three teams that should take a shot on the three-time Pro Bowler to see how much juice he’s got left in him. New York Giants How about a reunion in the Big Apple? It would only be fitting for Beckham to finish his career in the place where it all started. Superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers runs the show on offense, but after that, there are plenty of question marks. Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton slot in as solid options behind Nabers, but it would not hurt to add a veteran like Beckham into the mix. He knows what it's like playing in such a big market and could mentor the Giants' young offensive weapons while providing some depth production when called upon. Las Vegas Raiders There may not be a team with more of a need at the wide receiver position than the Las Vegas Raiders. The targets are understandably funneled to superstar tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but they need help beyond those two. Third-year wide receiver Tre Tucker and rookie wideouts Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are next in line. While those three may play big roles right from the start, the Raiders could certainly use another experienced pass-catcher, and Beckham is a nice option to fill that role. Perhaps he even shows himself to be worthy of the WR2 spot. Buffalo Bills The third team that could be in play for Beckham is the Buffalo Bills. With Josh Allen in his prime, they need to continue putting weapons around him whenever possible. Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman and free-agent signing Joshua Palmer are atop the depth chart in Buffalo, while reliable wideout Khalil Shakir is nicked up with an ankle injury. Longtime Carolina Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel also remains in the mix but is dealing with a hamstring ailment and has had injury woes in the past. Outside of Shakir, it's hard to know what you're going to get from the rest of the position group. Beckham will likely want to join a contender or somewhere he can play more of a factor than he did with the Dolphins in 2024-25, so keep an eye on the Bills.