After traveling a more varied road to the NFL than most, Stanford wide receiver Simi Fehoko will be hoping to capitalize on a sensational end to his college football career after declaring early for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Simi Fehoko NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Stanford
- Current Year: Junior
- Height: 6’3 7/8″
- Weight: 222 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Simi Fehoko Scouting Report
Positives: First-year starter coming off a career season. Large, game-controlling wideout who was the go-to receiver who could not be stopped at Stanford. Physical, outmuscles cornerbacks, and wins out for contested throws. Displays terrific eye/hand coordination as well as focus. Tracks the pass in the air, extends to make the reception away from his frame, and possesses soft as well as strong hands.
Comes back to the ball and follows the quarterback across the field to make himself an available target. Athletic, gets vertical and plucks the ball out of the air. Stout and rarely knocked out of his pass route by the inadvertent hit. Works his hands to separate from defenders and makes the reception in stride.
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Negatives: Plays to one speed, does not play to his forty-yard dash time, and lacks a burst. Occasionally lets passes slip through his hands. Rounds off routes and displays limited quickness in and out of breaks.
Analysis: After a productive freshman season, Fehoko improved during his shortened sophomore campaign. He’s a big possession receiver and an awesome red zone threat with potential as a fourth or even third receiver at the next level.
Simi Fehoko Player Profile
Simi Fehoko may be a relative unknown in this 2021 NFL Draft wide receiver class, but the Utah native was an outstanding high school player. Having been productive as a sophomore, he exploded onto the scene as a junior at Brighton High School. He began to receive national attention following a season that saw him set a state record with 24 touchdowns. Additionally, he secured 1,644 receiving yards from just 65 catches.
His big-play ability was recognized with offers from across the country. Those included Michigan, Arizona State, and Nebraska. Prior to his season, however, he committed to Stanford over offers from BYU and Utah.
The teams that missed out had to sit and watch as he once again topped 1,000 receiving yards as a senior. As a result of his performances, he earned the Gatorade Utah Player of the Year, 2015 Utah Mr. Football, and the USA Today Utah MVP.
Fehoko ended his high school career with the state record for receiving yards (3,571) and touchdowns (41). That’s when Simi Fehoko’s journey to the NFL Draft took a diversion.
While most high school footballers transition into their college programs — maybe redshirting their first year — he headed to South Korea. As a Mormon, he embarked on a two-year Latter Day Saints mission to Seoul, laboring and spreading the word of The Book of Mormon.
Simi Fehoko’s college football career at Stanford
After two years in Seoul, Simi Fehoko returned to Stanford to continue his football journey. As a freshman in 2018, he saw action in four games to end the season. Even though he made his first career reception against Oregon State, he was only a minor part of the offense. That all changed in 2019, however.
With J.J. Arcega-Whiteside headed to the NFL Draft, Simi Fehoko gained an elevated role in the Stanford wide receiver room. He scored his first college touchdown with a 42-yard catch against Washington. As a result of his performance, he earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.
Furthermore, it was the first of four games where he’d come up just shy of 100 receiving yards. Those included multi-touchdown performances against Arizona and Washington State.
Confirming his high school reputation as a big-play threat, he set a school record with 23.58 yards per catch in 2019. In conclusion, Fehoko finished the season with 566 receiving yards on 24 receptions and 6 touchdowns.
Simi Fehoko has a breakout year in 2020
Despite the shortened 2020 college football season, Simi Fehoko had his most productive season to date. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors after racking up 37 receptions for 584 yards. The majority of the production came from a two-game span to end the season that catapulted him into the national consciousness.
In the penultimate game of the season, Fehoko earned the first 100-yard game of his career. Coincidentally, it came against the team that he had his first career reception against — Oregon State.
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Then came the breakout game against UCLA. Fehoko had an incredible 16 catches for 230 yards, securing 3 touchdowns in the process. Fehoko set a school-record number of catches. Furthermore, it was the third-most receiving yards in program history.
With his reputation at an all-time high, Stanford wide receiver Simi Fehoko declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. He also tested at his pro day, logging a 4.44 40-yard dash, a 34.5-inch vertical, a 120-inch broad jump, and a 6.78 three-cone time.
Simi Fehoko’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Combining impressive speed and size, Stanford wide receiver Simi Fehoko is an attractive proposition in the 2021 NFL Draft. Currently, he projects to be an early Day 3 pick, potentially in the fifth round. As a player who has only made five college football starts, it’s likely his initial usage will be on special teams as he develops.
On the other hand, Fehoko could develop into a big play, contested catch, type of receiver sooner rather than later. Some teams with a need at wide receiver who would benefit from selecting Simi Fehoko in the 2021 NFL Draft include the Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, and New England Patriots.
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Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.