Josh Vann, WR South Carolina: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Vann was a four-star recruit from Tucker High School in Tucker, Ga. in the class of 2018

South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Josh Vann was a breakout player in 2021, but he’s failed to replicate his success six weeks into the college season. If Vann’s worrisome trend continues, he’ll fall out of the 2023 NFL Draft.

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Josh Vann, WR South Carolina: 2023 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Fifth-year senior outside and slot receiver from Tucker, Ga.

Background: Vann was a four-star recruit from Tucker High School in Tucker, Ga. in the class of 2018. He was the No. 146 recruit according to 247Sports, No. 191 for Rivals, and No. 144 for On3.com. ESPN ranked him 233rd in the nation with an 82 grade out of 100. As a high school senior, Vann amassed 46 receptions for 867 yards and 12 touchdowns, leading Tucker to a 12-2 record and the No. 24 ranking in the state. As a junior, he produced 63 receptions for 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns. Vann participated in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and also competed at The Opening Finals camp. He was born on March 10, 2000.

2021 Production: 13 games, 43 receptions, 679 yards, 5 touchdowns

2020 Production: 10 games, 10 receptions, 88 yards, 1 touchdown

2019 Production: 9 games, 19 receptions, 171 yards

2018 Production: 13 games, 18 receptions, 118 yards, 1 touchdown

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed three games in 2019 with a broken hand

Awards: 2018-19 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll, 2020 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll, 2021 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

Pros: Experience playing outside and in the slot, eliminated drops in 2021, special teams experience on the kick return, kick coverage, and punt return units, plus arm length, has the build-up speed to draw coverage vertically, high points and rises up to meet the football, varies route tempo, good open field vision to generate YAC, glides and weaves through the defense with the ball in his hands, hands catcher, good at finding holes in zone coverage

Cons: Usually loses in contested catch situations, suffered from drops before 2021, committed four penalties in 2021, very infrequently caught passes 20+ yards downfield, might be relegated to the slot in the NFL, speed is more built up than sudden, not twitchy or sudden, slowed or bumped off his route easily, routes are rounded instead of sharp, doesn’t threaten defenses vertically, not a natural separator, doesn’t offer much as a blocker, doesn’t break many tackles, not a dynamic athlete, release package doesn’t consistently keep him clean, play strength is a concern

Overview: Vann is unofficially listed at 5'11", 192 lbs. The Georgia native primarily lines up as an outside receiver for the Gamecocks, but he’d be relegated to the slot at the NFL level. He’s an experienced contributor on special teams and has handled some punt return duties in 2021 and 2022. Vann isn’t a dynamic athlete, but he has good open field vision to generate yards after the catch. He glides and weaves through the defense with the ball in his hands and has an eye for open space. Vann excels at finding holes in zone and giving his quarterback an open target. He suffered from drops before 2021, but largely eliminated those mistakes in his breakout season. Vann has good arm length and knows when to high point and rise to meet the football. Unfortunately, he lacks any spectacular physical or technical qualities. Vann usually loses in contested catch situations, and he was a non-factor in South Carolina’s first six games in 2022. The former four-star recruit has some build-up speed to threaten defenses deep, but he lacks the elite speed or suddenness to really beat teams vertically. Vann is easily slowed or bumped off his routes by contact and rarely breaks tackles. His routes are rounded instead of sharp, and he’s not a natural separator. Vann’s release package doesn’t consistently keep him clean going into his route, and he offers little in the run game as a blocker.

Overall, Vann had a breakout season in 2021, but he lacks the dynamic athletic traits and technical polish to turn heads in the draft process. It would take a complete 180 and a dominant finish to the season to put Vann on draft radars again.

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

Round Projection: UDFA

Player Comparison: N/A

Submitted: 10-12-22