A player previously only known for his heart and moxie made huge strides in his game during the 2017 season, posting career numbers in every category and drawing the attention of NFL scouts.
Braxton Berrios has spent his entire career dispelling people’s assumptions about his talent and raising the bar for what it means to be a Miami Hurricane. Suffering through injuries and lack of involvement in the gameplan in his first three seasons at the U, many would have transferred or simply mailed it in during their senior season, but Berrios instead saw an opportunity and seized the moment. The little guy that could led the Canes in every major receiving in 2017, posting career-highs of 55 catches and 679 yards for a whopping 9 TD’s.
Most memorable, however, was Berrios shaking off a bum ankle in the 4th quarter in Tallahassee with two big catches to lead UM down the field on their final drive, helping to end the Canes’ seven game losing streak against the hated rival Seminoles.
The effort in 2017 earned Berrios the team’s Offensive Player of the Year and The Mariutto Family Scholar-Athlete Award, and he was also a finalist for the Campbell Award, which is given to an athlete who performs well academically, as Berrios graduated from Miami with a degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship major and a 3.96 GPA.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 184 pounds
Arms: 28”
Hands: 9 1/4”
Strengths
Hands
Berrios is a sure-handed target that rarely drops a pass. He possesses an impressive ability to make sudden body adjustments to dig out low throws and balls behind him. The coaches at UM loved using Berrios returning punts, as his reliable hands were always trusted to make a safe catch. He also never fumbled a punt in three seasons as a returner at Miami, something that is invaluable on a unit where one miscue can change the complexion of the game in an instant.
Route Running
Berrios’ routes are crisp, clean, and set up to manipulate defenders. Berrios is more known for bursts of acceleration in small areas than straight-line cheetah speed. He can be a terror on underneath routes due to sudden footwork that shakes press defenders out of his release. Berrios loses very little quickness when he comes in and out of his breaks and shows the ability to make adjustments to his route instinctually if the called play is not there.
Weaknesses
Size/Frame
Many slot receivers of Berrios’ ilk have to deal with answering for this issue in the NFL. He doesn’t have very long arms and can get taken out of the game by a hyper-physical, nickel press corner. His height will prevent him from being able to go up-and-over a defender on 50/50 balls.
Deep Speed
Berrios did not show an ability to consistently get deep in college and was much more comfortable as a possession receiver working underneath to move the sticks. His short strides take away from his potential as a vertical threat at the next level and he doesn’t have much lateral agility either. A career average of just over 11 YPC bears this out.
Draft Projection: 5th-7th round
Berrios made a ton of clutch catches for Miami during the 2017 season and the moment never seems too big for him. Berrios went to have a decent week at the Senior Bowl and he made some phenomenal plays. He also checks off every box you could have in the intangibles category. While his size and frame will always hold him back, some team will be able to properly utilize him and get production out of him. Getting too focused on what he can’t do wouldn’t paint nearly a full picture of his true potential. He’s a safe pick with a limited ceiling in the late rounds that also brings value on special teams.
Braxton Berrios has spent his entire career dispelling people’s assumptions about his talent and raising the bar for what it means to be a Miami Hurricane. Suffering through injuries and lack of involvement in the gameplan in his first three seasons at the U, many would have transferred or simply mailed it in during their senior season, but Berrios instead saw an opportunity and seized the moment. The little guy that could led the Canes in every major receiving in 2017, posting career-highs of 55 catches and 679 yards for a whopping 9 TD’s.
Most memorable, however, was Berrios shaking off a bum ankle in the 4th quarter in Tallahassee with two big catches to lead UM down the field on their final drive, helping to end the Canes’ seven game losing streak against the hated rival Seminoles.
The effort in 2017 earned Berrios the team’s Offensive Player of the Year and The Mariutto Family Scholar-Athlete Award, and he was also a finalist for the Campbell Award, which is given to an athlete who performs well academically, as Berrios graduated from Miami with a degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship major and a 3.96 GPA.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 184 pounds
Arms: 28”
Hands: 9 1/4”
Strengths
Hands
Berrios is a sure-handed target that rarely drops a pass. He possesses an impressive ability to make sudden body adjustments to dig out low throws and balls behind him. The coaches at UM loved using Berrios returning punts, as his reliable hands were always trusted to make a safe catch. He also never fumbled a punt in three seasons as a returner at Miami, something that is invaluable on a unit where one miscue can change the complexion of the game in an instant.
Route Running
Berrios’ routes are crisp, clean, and set up to manipulate defenders. Berrios is more known for bursts of acceleration in small areas than straight-line cheetah speed. He can be a terror on underneath routes due to sudden footwork that shakes press defenders out of his release. Berrios loses very little quickness when he comes in and out of his breaks and shows the ability to make adjustments to his route instinctually if the called play is not there.
Weaknesses
Size/Frame
Many slot receivers of Berrios’ ilk have to deal with answering for this issue in the NFL. He doesn’t have very long arms and can get taken out of the game by a hyper-physical, nickel press corner. His height will prevent him from being able to go up-and-over a defender on 50/50 balls.
Deep Speed
Berrios did not show an ability to consistently get deep in college and was much more comfortable as a possession receiver working underneath to move the sticks. His short strides take away from his potential as a vertical threat at the next level and he doesn’t have much lateral agility either. A career average of just over 11 YPC bears this out.
Draft Projection: 5th-7th round
Berrios made a ton of clutch catches for Miami during the 2017 season and the moment never seems too big for him. Berrios went to have a decent week at the Senior Bowl and he made some phenomenal plays. He also checks off every box you could have in the intangibles category. While his size and frame will always hold him back, some team will be able to properly utilize him and get production out of him. Getting too focused on what he can’t do wouldn’t paint nearly a full picture of his true potential. He’s a safe pick with a limited ceiling in the late rounds that also brings value on special teams.
