Elijhah Badger, WR Arizona State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Badger was a four-star recruit from Folsom High School in Folsom, Calif. in the class of 2020
Arizona State wide receiver Elijhah Badger is an overlooked member of the 2024 NFL Draft’s wide receiver class. The redshirt junior is a YAC machine for the Sun Devils. He projects as a borderline top 100 selection.
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Elijhah Badger, WR Arizona State: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt junior outside receiver from Sacramento, Calif.
Background: Badger was a four-star recruit from Folsom High School in Folsom, Calif. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 141 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 132 for Rivals, and No. 120 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 197th in the nation with an 82 grade out of 100. Badger amassed 183 receptions for 3,398 yards and 52 touchdowns in three high school varsity seasons. As a senior, he posted 79 receptions for 1,386 yards and 20 touchdowns. Badger caught 55 passes for 1,113 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. He also scored six career touchdowns on kick or punt returns and had a pick-six. In his final two seasons, Badger totaled 956 kickoff return yards and 417 punt return yards. He led Folsom to the California State Championship in the Division 1-AA bracket as well as the 2018 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section title. Badger led Folsom to the top seed in the 2019 CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs in his final season.
Injuries & Off-Field: Ruled ineligible in 2020 for not meeting NCAA academic requirements
Awards: 2022 Honorable Mention All-Pac-12
Pros: High school kick and punt returner, gained exposure to the slot in 2022, good height, appears to have exceptional arm length, uses route tempo hit open zones when QB is ready to throw, doesn’t mind mid-route contact, long strides help him stack corners, varies route tempo to lull defenders to sleep on vertical routes, size and arm length expand his catch radius, high points the football, appears comfortable extending for catches outside of his frame, makes good adjustments to the ball when it’s in mid-air, untapped upside as a contested catcher, some impressive one-handed grabs, comfortable making catches along the sideline, good contact balance to break arm tackles, falls forward when tackled, decelerates quickly to slip past defenders, puts his foot in the ground and redirects quickly, spin move, agility to make jump cuts, impressive shiftiness at his size, willing but limited blocker
Cons: Enters 2023 with limited college special teams experience, committed four penalties in 2022, dropped five passes in 2022, lean build, speed is more built up than sudden, lacks breakaway speed, limited speed to threaten defenses vertically, bit of an odd running style with his legs, only five receptions on throws of 20+ air yards entering 2022, avoided facing press coverage by being off the line in stacks, limited exposure to hard press, needs to develop release package, route definition and detail varies, needs to sink his hips more at the top of his stem, natural separation skills don’t jump off the screen, routes can be rounded, sometimes drifts too far downfield on out routes, inconsistent ability to sustain blocks without holding
Overview: Badger was a high school kick and punt returner, but he enters 2023 with limited college special teams experience. He was ruled ineligible in 2020 for not meeting NCAA academic requirements. That delayed his development and led to 2022 being his first season with more than 100 receiving yards. Badger takes snaps out wide and in the slot. He has good height, a lean frame, and appears to have exceptional arm length. Badger uses route tempo hit and stay in open zones when his quarterback is ready to throw. He battles through contact in the middle of the route. The former four-star recruit uses varied route tempo and long strides to help him lull defenders to sleep before stacking them. His size and arm length expand his catch radius. Badger is comfortable high pointing the football and extending for catches outside his frame. He makes good adjustments to the ball when it’s in mid-air. Badger made several impressive one-handed grabs in 2022 and is comfortable making catches along the sideline. He’s a weapon with the ball in his hands because of his contact balance and deceptive shiftiness. Badger frequently survives first contact and always falls forward when tackled. He decelerates quickly to let defenders fly past him and puts his foot in the ground to redirect with little hesitation. The redshirt junior is a willing but limited blocker who struggles to sustain his position in the run game. He committed four penalties in 2022 and dropped five passes. Badger’s speed is more built up than sudden, and he lacks breakaway deep speed. His ability to threaten defenses vertically is limited. The California native needs to showcase a more developed release package. He wasn’t frequently challenged by press coverage in 2022 and enjoyed some reps lined up off the line of scrimmage in stacks. His attention to detail as a route runner varies. Badger doesn’t sink his hips enough at the top of his stem and rounds his routes or drifts too far downfield. His natural separation skills are average at best.
Overall, Badger’s ball skills, body type, and ability to force missed tackles after the catch suggest he could be worth a top 100 selection if he continues developing technically during his second year as a full-time contributor. Badger lacks the speed and twitch to separate at a high level, so his release package and route running must improve to compensate.
Role & Scheme Fit: Big slot or Z receiver
Round Projection: Mid Third to Early Fourth
Size: 6'2", 190 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 05-03-23