Our rookie scouting reports combine film and analytics to provide the best possible predictions for player performance. With the 2023 NFL Draft less than a month away, let’s take a look at the scouting report for Stanford WR Elijah Higgins.
Elijah Higgins NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Stanford
- Year: Senior
Higgins was a four-star recruit out of Bowie High School in Austin, Texas. He was a three-sport athlete, also playing basketball and competing in track and field. After numerous visits and interviews with various schools, Higgins chose to play college football at Stanford.
As a freshman, Higgins was exclusively a special teamer. He didn’t catch a single pass all season, yet was active for all 12 games on special teams. Higgins got on the field a little bit more as a sophomore but still wasn’t much of a factor. He played just four games on offense, catching 15 passes for 176 yards.
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It was in his junior season when Higgins finally broke out. He totaled 44 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns. As a senior, Higgins followed that up with 59 receptions for 794 yards and two touchdowns.
Unfortunately, we never got to see Higgins in a bowl game, as the Stanford teams he played on weren’t particularly good. Overall, Higgins played on offense in 27 college games, ending his collegiate career with 119 passes for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Elijah Higgins
Strengths: Massive college receiver with great athleticism who projects as a move tight end. Comes back to the quarterback to make himself an available target, extends his hands, and easily adjusts to the errant throw. Tracks the pass in the air, works to make the reception away from his frame, and looks the ball into his hands.
Physical, uses his frame to shield away defenders, and fights to come away with the difficult catch. Effectively times receptions and makes the catch in stride. Gives effort blocking downfield and gets results.
Weaknesses: Displays limited quickness. Does not consistently catch the ball cleanly away from his frame. Does not come away with the difficult grab as often as a bigger receiver should.
Overall: Higgins is a physical specimen who flashes dominance, yet he’s rough around the edges. His lack of quickness and inability to separate through routes will hamper him as a receiver on Sundays, but his size, movement skills, and willingness to block fit perfectly as a move tight end.
Elijah Higgins Combine Measurements and Results
- Height: 6’3″
- Weight: 235 pounds
- Arm Size: 31 3/4″
- Hand Size: 10 1/2″
- Bench Press: N/A
- 40-Yard Dash: 4.54
Stanford WR Elijah Higgins Current Draft Projection
On Tony Pauline’s latest Big Board, Higgins ranked 145th overall and is projected to be drafted in the fifth round. With a 3.49 grade, he is Pauline’s TE10 in this class.
No, that was not an error. Given his size and frame, Pauline believes Higgins will transition to tight end at the NFL level, and that doing so is his best path to NFL success.
College production is the most predictive indicator of NFL success. Higgins’ best season was his final season, where he saw a 19.1% target share. Even with that, he wasn’t overly productive.
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Where Higgins shines is with his athleticism. His speed score is in the 86th percentile, and he has excellent burst as well. For a guy as big as he is, Higgins moves very well. And if things break right, he could be a quality move tight end at the next level.
Higgins also has special-teams experience, which will go a long way toward earning him a spot on an NFL roster. For guys like Higgins, who is projected to be a Day 3 pick, the path to making an NFL roster is usually special teams.
It’s always a challenge for Day 3 picks. If Higgins is indeed drafted as a tight end, he should be in good position to at least make an NFL roster. If he can hone his craft, contribute on special teams, and improve as a player, it’s possible Higgins emerges into a regular part of an offense as a TE2/3.