Following his transfer to the Miami Hurricanes, wide receiver Charleston Rambo is an ascending prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft class. He’s coming off the most statistically successful season of his career. Yet, it’s the development that he’s shown during his year with Miami that illuminates Rambo’s scouting report with alluring upside ahead of the NFL’s annual selection event.
Charleston Rambo NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Miami (FL)
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 177 pounds
- Wingspan: 77 3/8″
- Arm: 32″
- Hand: 9 3/4″
Charleston Rambo Scouting Report
Don’t be fooled by the murky quarterback class into thinking that this is a bad 2022 NFL Draft class. It most certainly isn’t, and the wide receiver group is a perfect example of this. A deeply talented group, there is literally every type of receiver archetype available in April, from big-bodied pass catchers to speedsters and even some that blur the lines between the two.
One player who is climbing their way up those wide receiver rankings in the 2022 NFL Draft is Miami’s Rambo. After a disappointing 2020 season with Oklahoma, he reasserted himself with a standout redshirt senior season for the Hurricanes. Having aced the process so far, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him selected early-to-mid Day 3.
Rambo’s scouting report reveals why. A versatile wide receiver, he’s seen alignment across the formation for the Hurricanes. His predominant use has been as an outside receiver, but he’s also taken snaps out of the slot. Furthermore, he’s been used in motion for Miami. If you consider versatility next to ability, then Rambo ticks that box.
The ability is there in spades too. One of the first things I look for when evaluating wide receivers is physicality as a blocker. Despite his slender frame, Rambo possesses this in spades. He’s not afraid to engage against any opponent and throws what weight he has into every block. Furthermore, with 32″ arms, he’d demonstrated the ability to lock out and manipulate his opponent, particularly in goal-line situations.
Twitchy athlete with improved route running and catching technique
Rambo brings some impressive athletic elements to his NFL Draft scouting report. He’s a twitchy mover who does an excellent job of creating separation with releases and impressive change of direction. In multiple games, he demonstrated the ability to stop on a dime and come back to the quarterback for an easy completion. He also demonstrates the ability to stop and start with ease during his route running, varying his pace to confuse defensive backs.
His route running has been greatly improved this season. Rambo displayed the ability to find and attack soft spots in coverage. Furthermore, he displayed twitchiness in his breaks rather than rounding off as he’d demonstrated at Oklahoma.
From a catch-point perspective, Rambo is still a work in progress. That said, he did display the ability to pluck the ball out of the air that wasn’t always apparent at Oklahoma. What impressed me most was his ability to secure the ball in tough situations across the middle of the field. He also showcases good awareness to keep his feet in bounds when catching on the sideline.
Overall, Rambo is on an upward trajectory as an NFL Draft prospect. Before the season, I had him pinned as a probable UDFA. However, with the improvements in his game, a selection in the mid-part of Day 3 is far more likely. He offers an NFL team a prospect who is willing to do the dirty work and comes with special-teams ability on both kickoff coverage and as a returner. That should ensure he finds an immediate role as he develops into an NFL WR.
Areas for improvement
While Rambo is an ascending WR prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft, there are still some areas for improvement. Furthermore, these areas and limitations may hinder his ceiling at the next level, and therefore, his ultimate NFL Draft position.
Although he’s demonstrated the ability to create separation with twitchiness and quick releases, I don’t feel like Rambo has the long speed to consistently take the top off an NFL defense. The Miami WR ran a 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and that speed is apparent on tape. As a result, that might limit his role in the NFL.
Despite showcasing physicality as a blocker and some impressive contested-catch ability in the middle of the field, Rambo does have a slender build. At 6’1″ and 177 pounds, he could use some extra muscle weight to meet the rigors of the NFL. That said, DeVonta Smith has taught us not to get dragged into a BMI debate during NFL Draft evaluations.
Finally, while he’s improved his pass-catching technique this season at Miami, there’s some room for improvement there still. There were multiple drops on film at Oklahoma, and he needs to consistently ensure that he plucks the ball rather than relying on allowing it to come into his frame. His improvements this year suggest that this is something that he can accomplish.
Rambo’s Player Profile
“Whatever possessed God in heaven to make a man like Rambo?”
The quote may have come from the film franchise that shared his name, but opposing defenses must have thought the very same when tasked with trying to cover Rambo during his high school career. During his sophomore season with Woodrow Wilson, the talented wide receiver was named the District 11-5A Offensive Sophomore of the Year.
Rambo asserted himself as one of the top prospects even within the talent-rich state of Texas. A four-star recruit, he was the 28th best player in Texas and a top-150 player nationally, per 247 Sports. Unsurprisingly, he attracted over 30 offers but ultimately committed to Oklahoma.
He’d later describe that his heart was in Norman. Furthermore, his decision appeared to align with fate, as he met outgoing Oklahoma wide receiver Dede Westbrook — the man he’d replace — in a Texas shopping mall on the day before he’d officially make the Sooners his college of choice.
Committed before his senior season, Rambo showcased the skill set that he would bring to the Sooners in his final high school season. He earned AP Class 6A All-State honors following a campaign in which he tallied 1,590 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns.
Rambo’s college career
Despite his impressive high school career, Rambo entered an impressive Oklahoma WR room that contained CeeDee Lamb and Marquise Brown, not to mention the exceptional pass-catching tight end, Mark Andrews. As a result, Rambo redshirted in 2017 and made modest contributions (8 catches for 125 yards) during his redshirt freshman season.
However, an impressive performance against Alabama in the CFB Playoff semifinal demonstrated his potential. Snagging a 49-yard touchdown, he tallied 3 catches for 74 yards. The performance paved the way for ascension to a starting role for the 2019 campaign.
That redshirt sophomore season was the most successful of his stint with Oklahoma. In addition to three 100+ yard games (Texas Tech, UCLA, and Houston), Rambo snagged the longest reception of all Oklahoma pass catchers with a 74-yard grab against Texas Tech. He finished the year with 743 yards and 5 touchdowns while adding contributions as a kick returner.
With Lamb departed for the NFL, Rambo was expected to make the step up and lead the team in 2020. However, amongst the disruption of the season, the Oklahoma WR had a somewhat disappointing campaign. Although he tallied 80 yards and 2 touchdowns in the season opener, he ended the year with just 312 yards and 3 touchdowns from 25 receptions.
Rambo’s NFL Draft ascension
Faced with a decision on his future at the end of 2020, Rambo opted to enter the transfer portal. While having multiple suitors try and secure his signature, Miami emerged as his destination for 2021. Discussing his decision with 247 Sports, the redshirt senior pointed to wide receiver coach Rob Likens as a pivotal part of his process.
“Just hearing him out and how he had helped build up receivers in the past,” Rambo said. “I knew if I was going to do another year, I wanted to go somewhere to work. Me and Likens are on the same page. So we are going to get right.”
“Get right” he most certainly did. Rambo emerged as a dangerous pass-catching weapon for a Miami offense that saw their share of difficulty. He logged six 100+ yard games, including a career-high 210 yards against Georgia Tech. Rambo led the team with 1,172 yards and 7 touchdowns while securing program records for receptions and receiving yards in a single season.
Rambo’s performances in his only season as a Miami WR earned him national attention. Accepting an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl, he impressed Pro Football Network’s team on the ground, with Cam Mellor describing him as “unguardable,” “dominant,” and “spectacular.” Once a forgotten NFL Draft prospect, Rambo is ascending at just the right time in this deep wide receiver class.
Tony Pauline’s Scouting Report for Charleston Rambo
Positives: Underrated receiver with next-level skills and a consistent game. Tracks the pass in the air, shows terrific focus as well as concentration, and looks passes into his hands. Makes the difficult catch in contorted positions when battling defenders. Possesses quick, strong hands and snatches the ball out of the air.
Consistently comes back to the football to make himself an available target, displays outstanding awareness, and keeps the play in bounds after the catch. Agile, displays good route discipline, and possesses solid eye/hand coordination. Quickly gets off the snap, immediately gets to top speed, and shows great timing on receptions. Plays with terrific balance as well as body control.
Negatives: Not a strong receiver and struggles battling physical bump-and-run cornerbacks. Lacks a second gear and vertical speed.
Analysis: Rambo looked like a star in the making at Oklahoma during the 2019 season before taking a major step back the following year. He stepped to the forefront this year after transferring to Miami and stood out during three days of Shrine Bowl practices. Rambo is a long wideout with outstanding pass-catching skill and enough ability to make a roster as a third receiver.