Travis Rudolph Scouting Report
Travis Rudolph came on at Florida State in 2014 in a burst. Starting six games as a freshman, he totaled 555 yards and four touchdowns on the year. He showed improvement during his sophomore year, adding 916 yards and seven touchdowns as the Noles' new #1 receiver. His production was much the same during his junior season. Rudolph showed a ton of potential but not a ton of development with FSU. At 6'1" and 192 lbs, he offers a frame that can jump and go up and get the football as well as one that can create yards after the catch on screens. He has plenty of experience, starting 30 of a career 36 games. With that being said, here's my report on Rudolph:
Route Running: Rudolph offers a ton on corner and vertical routes. He does a good job of winning on go routes down the field and over the middle. He is versatile and can work from the slot and on the outside, which is valuable. He creates separation best from along the sideline.
Hands: Rudolph's hands are very inconsistent overall. He's on and off. When he's ON, he utilizes his catch radius and does a great job of tracking the ball over the shoulder. When he's OFF, he drops a lot of the passes thrown his way and doesn't attack and play the football very well. He makes some great catches along the sideline at times.
Speed: Rudolph's speed is adequate. He isn't a burner but when he turns upfield along the sideline he can find ways to get past most defensive backs.
YAC Ability: Rudolph makes the most of the yards he gets and works the sideline very well. Against Syracuse in 2015, he showcased a raw ability to power through and past defenders. Rudolph is a player you can use on screens and vertical routes and still be confident in to get yards after the catch.
Blocking: Rudolph is underrated as a blocker. He does a good job of getting leverage against defenders and driving them back. It certainly isn't one of his most important traits but it's another thing he does well.
Fourth Round Value
The bottom line is that Rudolph is a very developable player. He is only 21 and has a ton of room to grow and a ton of potential. A team could take a chance on him late on Day 2 and get a very productive #2 receiver or they could get a bust. It will be interesting to see how he tests and looks at his Pro Day, as that will be a key indication as to where he is drafted.
