Markus Wheaton, WR

03/16/2013 - 2013 Oregon State Pro Day: Wheaton decided to rest on all his numbers from the combine. At Lucas Oil Stadium last month, he recorded top times in the 40-yard dash (4.45), vertical jump (37-inches), short shuttle (4.02), long shuttle (11.16) and bench press (20 reps). Both Poyer and Wheaton looked good during their positional drills with one scout saying "neither did much to help or hurt themselves today." - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com

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Used in much the same way as the Beavers featured former star James Rodgers throughout his distinguished career in Corvallis, Wheaton developed into one of the Pac-12's most versatile and underrated weapons, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark in all-purpose yardage in 2010 and 2011.

Wheaton caught a then-career-high 73 passes for 986 yards in 2011, earning honorable mention all-conference honors despite the fact he only caught one touchdown.

He was expected to significantly improve those numbers as a senior -- and certainly did so in earning First Team All Pac-12 honors with 91 grabs for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns in a breakout performance that helped him surge past Rodgers, Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to leave Oregon State as the school's all-time record holder with 227 career receptions.

A willing receiver over the middle with the toughness to handle running with the ball on the fly-sweep, Wheaton has the production to prove that he isn't just a track athlete in football pads... he's a big play waiting to happen. Wheaton tends to play too fast at times in his routes, but when controlled he has the sudden moves and athleticism to create and make smooth adjustments to the ball.

STRENGTHS: Very good straight-line speed that translates well onto the gridiron. Eats up the cushion due to his quick burst off the snap. Has a good arm-over swim move and the lateral agility to elude when pressed. Very experienced against press coverage due to the fact Oregon State uses this technique with their cornerbacks.

Savvy, athletic route-runner. Can drop his hips and shows good balance, burst out of his breaks to generate separation. Recognizes holes in zone and settles nicely, keeping himself alive to aid his quarterback.

Talented pass catcher. Shows the ability to snatch passes out of the air and has good body control to contort. Good deep ball receiver, showing the ability to track the ball over either shoulder. Has good lateral agility to elude defenders in tight quarters and has an effective stiff-arm and good balance to generate yardage after the catch.

Alert and a surprisingly competitive blocker given his relatively slight frame. Good bloodlines. Cousin of former Dallas Cowboys defensive back Kenny Wheaton.

WEAKNESSES: Possesses a narrow frame and is especially thin in his lower body, leading to some concern as to where he'll fit best in the NFL. Owes much of his statistical success to Oregon State's quick-hitting passing attack, which features a lot of screens and other short routes. Has struggled, at times, with drops when he's attempted to make defenders miss before securing the ball or when trailing back over the middle on drag routes, leading to some concerns over "alligator arms" in traffic.

COMPARES TO: Bernard Berrian, WR, ex-Chicago Bears/Minnesota Vikings -- Like the former Fresno State product, Wheaton can blame the so-called East Coast bias for his lack of national coverage despite proving himself to be a playmaker over his career. Like Berrian, Wheaton is a big-play threat whenever the ball is in his hands, but his spindly frame could keep him from reaching his maximum potential.