Scouting Report: Javon Baker (WR) - UCF
Sales Pitch: "High IQ route runner who was extremely productive in college. Average athleticism limits his ability to win against top end coverage players. Projects as a high floor possession WR who can play all three WR spots due to his instincts, toughness and ball skills in traffic."
Athletic Profile
Height: 6’ 1 1/4”
Weight: 202 lbs
Arm Length: 32 1/4”
Hand Size: 9 5/8”
40 Yard Dash: 4.54
10 Yard Split: 1.58
Vertical: 37”
Broad Jump: 10’ 1”
Short Shuttle: N/A
3-Cone: N/A
Age: 22
Relative Athletic Score: 7.82 / 10.00
Statistics
Career: 117 REC - 2,051 YDS - 17.5 YPR - 13 TD
2023: 52 REC - 1,139 YDS - 21.9 YPR - 7 YD
Strengths
Solid size and length w/ long legs
High IQ player with a strong understanding of coverages
Varies his stems and releases over the course of a game
Uses jabs, head fakes and rocker steps to set up defenders and attack leverage
Size and concentration to make catches in traffic
Strong hands that attack the ball outside his frame
Good balance and body control along the sideline
56.4% career contested catch rate
Strength and balance to fall forward after the catch
Solid blocker who shows toughness and effort
Weaknesses
Average athlete with limited agility
Lacks the top end speed to threaten defenses vertically
Limited acceleration and burst off the line
Struggles to beat press and fight through pressure in his stems
Cannot separate from DBs w/ plus athleticism
Does not provide playmaking w/ the ball
11.4% career drop rate
Summary
Javon Baker is a high IQ receiver with good size and toughness. The former 4-Star from the state of Georgia spent his first two seasons at Alabama before transferring to UCF in 2022 where he went on to be a two time All-Big 12 honoree and lead the conference in yards in 2023. Baker is a smart WR who understands how routes and concepts are supposed to attack coverages. He does an excellent job varying the angles and speeds of his releases to attack defenders. He displays a variety of head fakes and jab steps that he can use to manipulate defenders hips when in off man or zone coverage. Baker has the capability to run a full route tree to all three levels at at least an adequate level. He has good size for the position that allows him to make catches in traffic and through contact. He shows strong hands that attack the ball away from his frame, while stationary and on the move. He has good leaping ability (37” vertical) and body control to go up and attack the ball in the air as well. Baker does a lot of things well but has no true game changing trait that would make a defense scheme for him. He is an average athlete with adequate long speed (4.54 40-time = 38th percentile). He will fail to consistently separate from NFL caliber athletes at the next level despite his high quality route running due to these limitations. Baker can struggle with press coverage because he lacks the requisite burst off the line to get into advantageous positions. Despite his size he also struggles to fight through pressure in his stems and stack aggressive physical defenders, too often being ridden wide towards the sideline on his vertical routes. Baker’s lack of athleticism also limits his ability to be a playmaker with the ball. His size and balance allows him to fall forward for extra yards after the catch but he lacks the quickness or speed to elude defenders and create with the ball in his hands. Baker projects as a dependable possession WR who wins with toughness and intelligence. His lack of physical traits limits his overall ceiling and ability to consistency produce against man coverage. He best fits as a power slot who makes his impact on versus zone coverage and on high level downs. Baker will be a quality WR3 who can play in a variety of schemes and alignments but lacks the upside to be a true difference maker.