In a deep 2021 NFL Draft wide receiver class, can Mister Elias de Angelo “Whop” Philyor hear his name called in Cleveland? The former Indiana wide receiver — who earned his name due to his love of Burger King’s Whopper — has been devouring Big Ten defenses for the past four years, but will it be feast or famine for him in the NFL?
Whop Philyor NFL Draft Player Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Indiana
- Current Year: Senior
- Height: 5′ 9 1/2″
- Weight: 184 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Whop Philyor Scouting Report
Positives: Diminutive receiver who was also effective as a return specialist. Smooth and fluid, runs sharp routes, and separates from defenders. Tracks the pass in the air, gets vertical, and contorts to come away with the difficult catch. Easily adjusts and makes the reception in stride. Displays strong hands as well as the ability to pull the ball from the air.
Negatives: More quick than fast and lacks a second gear. Occasionally, takes his eyes off the ball, which results in dropped passes. Gives effort blocking but really doesn’t get results.
Analysis: Philyor is a quick, creative skill player who can be used as a slot receiver and punt returner. He must fine-tune his receiving skill, but his greatest value at the next level will be on special teams.
Whop Philyor Player Profile
A versatile playmaker out of Tampa, Philyor combined a highly productive football career at Plant High School with a standout track and field career. Versatile may be an understatement to describe the diminutive pass catcher’s influence on the Plant football team. He saw time at wide receiver, running back, and defensive back.
Not only did he see the field at all three positions, but he also dominated in two of them. Earning first-team All-State honors as a senior, he racked up 1,329 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns. Furthermore, he added 38 tackles, 18 pass breakups, 2 interceptions, and 1 forced fumble.
His defensive production would be impressive for a cornerback recruit. However, Philyor went into the 2017 recruiting process as a three-star wide receiver. 247 Sports ranked him as the 199th player at the position. The Florida native received offers from in-state USF and UCF amongst a number of Group of 5 offers. Indiana gave him the opportunity to play Power 5 football in the Big Ten and Philyor enrolled in 2017.
Philyor’s college football career at Indiana
Before being an NFL Draft prospect, Philyor made a record-breaking impact as a true freshman wide receiver for the Hoosiers. He secured 33 receptions and 3 touchdowns in 2017, both program records for a freshman. In a stellar outing against Maryland, he set the single-game receptions record for a freshman. Philyor turned his 13 receptions into 127 yards — at that point a career-high — and a touchdown. Additionally, he demonstrated special teams value with 3 returns for 66 yards.
Looking to build on that record-setting foundation as a sophomore, Philyor secured another 13-catch game against Michigan State early in 2018. Setting a new career-high of 148 receiving yards, he snagged a 65-yard touchdown, albeit in a losing effort for the Hoosiers. Unfortunately, his opportunity to continue to rip up the record books would be stalled, with injury limiting Philyor to five starts as a sophomore.
Philyor’s breakout junior season for the Hoosiers
Frustrated and motivated, the Indiana wide receiver enjoyed a breakout season as a junior. He snagged a career-high 182 receiving yards against Rutgers, just one of four 100+ yard games in 2019. His ability to make plays with the ball in his hands saw him lead the Big Ten in yards after the catch (502).
He created half of his career-high 1,002 receiving yards himself while adding 5 touchdowns. Philyor penciled his name into another section of the Indiana wide receiver record book, becoming only the seventh Hoosier to surpass the 1,000-yard mark.
The final record he etched his name on to came in his final game as an Indiana receiver. At the end of the disrupted 2020 season, Philyor secured 18 catches in the Outback Bowl defeat to Ole Miss. That was more than any wide receiver snagged in a single game in Indiana history. He leaves the Hoosiers as the all-time leader in double-digit receiving games, fourth in receptions, and ninth in receiving yards.
Whop Philyor’s best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Philyor’s projected role in the NFL will likely be where he saw the most success in college — in the slot. Despite his slight frame, he’s demonstrated toughness in traffic and across the middle of the field. He also has the speed to get behind the defense and make a big play. His ability to create yardage with the ball in his hands, as he did in 2019, should ensure a team gives him a shot at the next level.
Teams that would be a good it for the Indiana wide receiver include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and the Green Bay Packers. Moreover, there are multiple teams that will address the position in the 2021 NFL Draft, giving Philyor plenty of potential landing spots.
Want more prospect news? Want to do your own mock draft?
Dive into PFN’s Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator and test your own drafting acumen. Continue to visit Pro Football Network for NFL news and in-depth analysis. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter (@PFN365) to stay in the loop on all things college football and the NFL Draft landscape.
Oliver Hodgkinson is a staff writer for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter at @ojhodgkinson.