A.T. Perry, WR Wake Forest: Offseason 2023 NFL Draft Profile

A.T. Perry was a three-star recruit from Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth, Fla. in the class of 2018

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons fell one win shy of claiming the 2021 ACC Championship. The team’s most impressive offensive engines are returning for another shot at glory. Quarterback Sam Hartman and wide receiver A.T. Perry hope to win glory for the Demon Deacons in 2022 before departing for the NFL.

Here’s an early look at Perry’s 2023 NFL Draft profile. He’s one of the most intriguing and controversial wide receivers in the upcoming class.

Visit my Twitter account @Sam_Teets33 for more updates and previews of the 2023 NFL Draft Guide.

A.T. Perry, WR Wake Forest: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt junior outside receiver from Lake Worth, Fla.

Background: Perry was a three-star recruit from Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth, Fla. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 1,418 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,213 for On3.com. Perry was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 76 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, he caught 33 passes for 614 yards and eight touchdowns. Perry also earned all-county honors in basketball and won the county long jump championship. His mother (Chasity Prescott) was a high school All-American and ran track at Arizona State. Perry originally committed to the UAB Blazers before switching to Wake Forest. He was born on Oct. 26, 1999.

2021 Production: 14 games, 71 receptions, 1,293 yards, 15 touchdowns

2020 Production: 6 games, 15 receptions, 211 yards, 1 touchdown

2019 Production: 9 games, 4 receptions, 62 yards, 1 touchdown

2018 Production: Redshirt Year

Injuries & Off-Field: N/A

Awards: 2021 First-Team All-ACC, 2021 Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist

Pros: Mildly experienced in the slot, special teams experience from 2019, tall but lean frame doesn’t slow him down, arm length and catch radius, speed to threaten defenses deep, posted wins against Andrew Booth Jr., Mario Goodrich, Damarri Mathis, and Garrett Williams in 2021, long strides erase the corner’s cushion in off-man, comfortable working the corner of the end zone, battles through contact early in the route, varies route and release speed to create separation, quick footwork, ADOT over 15 for his college career, terrific at finding open space, willing blocker, above average cutting and route definition for a player with his size, far more than a big possession wide receiver (he’s more dynamic than that), gives his quarterback and out when the play breaks down

Cons: Not highly productive in contested catch situations despite his size, drop rate over 10% in his college career, committed four penalties in 2021, lean frame limits play strength, lacks home run speed, almost seems slower with the football than without it, defenders catch him from behind, body catches are common, large frame to target in press coverage, not twitchy or sudden, few manufactured touches, not a natural separator, lacks elusiveness, age

Overview: Perry is unofficially listed at 6'5", 206 lbs. The soon-to-be fifth year college star burst onto the scene in 2021 with seven 100-yard games against a stacked ACC slate. The first thing that pops off the screen about Perry is his size. He towers over the competition but lacks the bulk of someone like Dontay Demus Jr. Despite his high hips and lean build, Perry shows good agility going into and out of cuts. His long strides cover ground quickly, and he’s a surprisingly effective deep threat. While he’s often at an athletic disadvantage against smaller, shiftier corners, Perry uses nuance and veteran savvy to create separation.

Overall, Perry possesses a unique frame and skill set in the college football landscape. He’s not an elite athlete by the standards of prototypical wide receivers, but his game and traits are difficult to counter, especially one-on-one. He won’t appeal to every NFL team, but his high floor and unknown ceiling are attractive qualities.

Role & Scheme Fit: X receiver in an 11 personnel heavy scheme

Round Projection: Mid Second to Early Third

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 07-06-22