San Jose State Spartans wide receiver Nick Nash was one of college football’s top weapons in 2024. The former quarterback showcased elite production and mentality on the way to the receiving triple crown. But what is the wide receivers’ projection in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Our Nick Nash scouting report looks at whether one of the most productive receivers in the country can continue producing at the NFL level.
Nick Nash Scouting Report
Size: 6’3”, 196 pounds
Key Stat: Finished the 2024 season earning the receiving triple crown and became only the fourth player in FBS history to lead the country in touchdowns (16), receptions (104), and yards (1,382).
Projected Role: Big slot receiver
Strengths
- Extremely productive. 16 Touchdowns, 104 receptions, and 1,382 yards in 2024.
- Exceptional ball skills. Creates highlight reel grabs and special moments.
- He has impressive hand-eye coordination and control, leaving defenders struggling to contest his grabs.
- Sticky hands that magnetize the football.
- Elite football I.Q. and natural rapport with quarterbacks. A former QB who only converted to WR in 2023.
- His size and build create mismatches from the slot, allowing him to overpower defenders, especially in contested situations.
- Has immediate acceleration and long speed. Long strides to quickly cover ground.
- He thrives when attacking zone coverage. His natural understanding and intuition as a former QB is indefensible. Finds soft spots in zone coverage and exploits them with precision.
- Will offer creativity for NFL play-callers who could line him up in wildcat formation or as a dual-threat QB on sub-packages.
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Areas to Improve
- Lacks the ability to separate. He struggles to create consistent separation from defenders, particularly in man or press coverage.
- His route tree is still a work in progress and is currently limited.
- He still needs to refine his route when running in short areas and add nuance to manipulate space when working through traffic over the middle.
- Doesn’t have the build of a traditional NFL slot corner.
- He tends to get disrupted when defenders play him physically, sometimes causing him to lose his timing and requiring him to re-route.
- He needs to add to his strength and resilience through his routes will be crucial for maintaining his rhythm.
Ceiling: No. 1 option from the slot
Floor: Jump ball receiver with limited route tree
Nick Nash NFL Draft Outlook
Nick Nash heads to the NFL with an impressive combination of production, skill, and untapped potential. His standout season in 2024 showcased how the Spartans’ receiver can handle the workload of a stud NFL receiver while his ball skills, conditioning, and size translate to the next level.
However, Nash lacks the refined skillset and route running that would typically be associated with a clean NFL Draft prospect. Having only transitioned to wide receiver in 2023, his route tree is still expanding, and the SJSU player lacks the intricacies and nuances needed to offset defenders at the NFL level.
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Those may still come, but that means Nash is a project. His frame allows for added physicality, while his athleticism allows him to target all levels of the field. Meanwhile, as a former quarterback, the California native has a natural feel for zone coverage and sees the game through a quarterback’s eyes.
Bottom Line: Physically, his size, strength, and speed create mismatches, especially when aligned in the slot. His frame allows Nash to overpower defenders, while his acceleration and long strides enable him to break away quickly.
The SJSU receivers’ ability to read and exploit zone coverage, a skill rooted in his quarterback background, adds another dimension to his game. Additionally, his versatility opens up creative opportunities for NFL coaches, allowing him to be used in Wildcat formations or dual-threat QB packages.
That gives Nash a high ceiling, but also makes him a risky prospect, one who will need refinement before he’s ready to make meaningful contributions to an NFL offense.
Draft Projection: Early Day 3 (Rounds 4-5)
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