WR, Louisville
Height: 5’9″
Weight: 165 lbs
Class: Junior
If you want a speed demon in this year’s draft, look no further than Tutu Atwell. The Louisville wide receiver has made a name for himself as a jitterbug in the open field and has averaged 16.4 yards per catch throughout his college career. A former high school quarterback, Atwell brings an intriguing skillset to the table, although he remains a raw and unrefined prospect.
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Strengths
Atwell’s biggest strength is his speed. He has been clocked as fast as 4.27 in the 40-yard dash and is easily one of the quickest players in the 2021 class. He is a constant deep threat who will offer field-stretching potential wherever he lands. Whilst his game is still raw in many areas, his speed bails him out and he can create separation from defensive backs based solely on his athletic ability.
Atwell’s speed makes him an absolute nightmare for defenses to deal with after the catch. Few can even get close enough to make a tackle and you won’t ever see him being chased down from behind. Louisville’s offense utilised Atwell heavily on screens and 52.1 per cent of his career yardage came with the ball in his hands. He has the shiftiness and elusiveness in the open field to make players miss and teams will love his dynamic potential.
An underrated part of Atwell’s game is his hands. Since the beginning of 2019, he has logged just six drops on 122 catchable passes. Many of his targets have been short and simple catches on screens and sweeps, but his hands are solid at all three levels of the field. Atwell is comfortable tracking the ball downfield and making catches outside his frame, although he’s not going to bring much in terms of contested catch skills.
It may be surprising given his size, but Atwell plays the game with a physical approach and showcases great competitive toughness. He is willing to put his body on the line for big plays and demonstrates great effort as a run blocker. Whilst his lack of size limits his effectiveness in these situations, his approach speaks to his work ethic and mentality.
Weaknesses
Atwell possesses elite speed, but at this point he doesn’t offer much else. His route tree at Louisville was incredibly limited. He almost exclusively ran go routes, slants, and screens and there is little nuance to his approach at this point. He has created separation through pure speed, but if he wants to elevate his game he needs to add more definition to his routes. 40 of Atwell’s 140 career receptions have come behind the line of scrimmage and it would be fair to call him a gadget player at this point.
The other obvious issue will be his size. Even for a smaller slot receiver, Atwell is on the diminutive end of the scale. At just 5’9″ and 165 lbs, he is seriously undersized and there will be concerns about his durability. He struggles if corners get physical downfield and his routes are easily disrupted. Atwell is also an unknown quantity when it comes to dealing with press coverage. As much as he demonstrates a willingness to play physical, he will need to add more strength to translate to the NFL.
Bottom Line
Speed sells in the NFL and teams are going to love what Atwell brings to the table. He is a dynamic weapon in the open field and a constant home run threat. That said, he’s still very raw and isn’t much more than a gadget player right now. He won’t be able to win consistently with pure athleticism in the NFL, and if he is to have success he will need to develop as a route runner. The potential is certainly there, but he could require some work.
Big Board Rank: #138
Positional Rank: #19
