JASON CROOM, 6-5, 220 WR NORCROSS, GA. [NORCROSS HS]
Ratings: Rivals 4* No. 41 wide receiver No. 19 player in state No. 246 overall, Scout 4* No. 44 wide receiver, ESPN 3* No. 55 wide receiver, 247 4* No.20 wide receiver No. 15 player in the state No. 178 overall. Chose UT over Auburn, Mississippi State, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Florida State, South Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, LSU, Southern Miss, Miami, others.
STRENGTHS: He is a flat-out monster, possessing size and speed that will be a mismatch for any corner. His frame can hold 240-245 pounds, and he will be a nightmare if he moves in closer to the line and gets matched up on a linebacker. Let's put it this way -- Oklahoma State is begging him to visit, telling him he will be the next Justin Blackmon. He is that kind of talent. He is an exceptional blocking receiver who uses his hands well to get off the bump at the line. He also may be used as a red-zone weapon as soon as next year. He is a superb kid with a great family who loves the Vols, and he's one of those kids who has been the epitome of committed.
NEEDS WORK: He has fine speed, but he looks a bit slow to start. Whether that's reactionary or his first step, I'm not sure, but he tends to creep off the line at times. Also, he isn't always sharp running routes. He needs to work on his pivot and sharp cuts. He still put up big numbers on a running team, and the few things he does inconsistently are coachable. There were rumors about his grades -- shot down by his mama on the message boards. Hopefully, there are no issues there.
CREDENTIALS: He was chosen as a member of the Offense-Defense All-American bowl this year. As a junior, he had 32 catches for 506 yards and five touchdowns. He is also a standout basketball player and runs track. Was one of Gwinnett Daily News' Super Six players in the county. He runs a 4.53 40-yard dash and was an all-state selection this year. He finished his senior season with 34 catches for 688 yards and 10 touchdowns for a team that didn't pass a lot.
OPTIMISTIC CEILING: I have visions of matchup nightmares dancing in my head, a cross between Calvin Johnson, Justin Blackmon and Da'Rick Rogers. OK, so Croom may not be THAT good, but he certainly has elite potential, and he is easily one of my five favorite players in this class. I believe he would benefit from a year in the weight room, but the Vols need quality depth at WR immediately, so he'll have every opportunity to play. Hopefully, he can be the red zone threat Matt Milton never was.
0 recs | 41 comments
Per Mr. Croom himself
His stats this season were 34 rec, 688 yards & 10 TD’s
Remember Brad, you never know who’s reading so be nice. ;-)
Welcome to Rocky Top Jason!
VolBrian - January 21, 2012
Here
VolBrian - January 21, 2012
That's pretty cool
VolsnCards5 - January 21, 2012 via mobile
as for the haterz JASON
Pin 1st John 4:4 to ur chest.
SLSmi - January 21, 2012 via mobile
Haven't seen that one before
Will Shelton - January 21, 2012
Really? Mr. Croom reads this? If so A-W-E-S-O-M-E
Brad Shepard - January 21, 2012
I updated the post with his stats.
Brad Shepard - January 21, 2012
And when I updated it, I lost half of what I wrote and also there are major formatting issues
So, I tried to re-create as best I could. Pardon the jumbled formatting above.
Brad Shepard - January 21, 2012
Whoa, he's big.
Somebody send him the highlight tapes of Calvin Johnson this year and have him commit that to memory.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
not highlight tapes
of Julio Jones?
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
No offense to Mr. Jones.
But Calvin Johnson is a far superior wide receiver at this point in their careers.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
NEVER!!!!!
Go Falcons!!!
actually, yes at this point in their careers I agree with you. For one, Megatron is the clear #1 receiving threat on the Lions, while JJ is #2a (#1 is Rowdy Roddy White, #2b is The Immortal Tony Gonzalez). I do think that JJ has a higher ceiling, though.
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
Hire ceiling than roddy white? Yes
Hire ceilin than megatron? No way
VolsnCards5 - January 21, 2012 via mobile
GO FALCONS!!!
Brad Shepard - January 21, 2012
What is this madness?
JULIO JONES PLAYED FOR ALABAMA.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
I can't help who my Falcons draft
One of these days, they’ll draft Jason Croom after his All-America career at Tennessee.
Brad Shepard - January 21, 2012
The Titans get dibs on Justin Hunter, then.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
and Matt Ryan played for Boston College
but the only qb’s that I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that’re better than him played for Michican (Brady) and The University of Tennessee (do I need to say?)
Then again…. I wonder how absolutely awesome the Falcons would be if they could somehow get their hands on Foster, Eric Berry, Justin Hunter (in two years), and Malik Jackson….
Actually, I don’t wonder. I know. Go Falcons!
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
I would like the Falcons probably as much as the Vols then
Nah.
Brad Shepard - January 21, 2012
might be tough
but I was a Falcons fan before I had any fandom of UT. Actually, i was a gator fan before I was a vol fan… oh, what grad school does.
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
as a UNC grad student
not a lot?
Incipient_Senescence - January 21, 2012
my undergrad
DIII school (except for hockey), less than 6000 students, and literally would have less than 1000 fans at a football game, probably less than 100 at a basketball game.
So a shift from that to UT…
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
my undergrad was much, much smaller
DII school, less than 700 students. but I travel to Knoxville and go to Vol games more often than I go to UNC games. So maybe I’m just not letting grad school affect me
Incipient_Senescence - January 21, 2012
mayhaps
part of it is also, my undergrad was in Troy, NY. and Knoxville, TN >>>> Troy, NY.
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
my undergrad was in Due West, SC
it’s probably because I grew up in a college football mad environment and just maintained through undergrad (in a really small place) and grad school (at a large state university) instead of letting college dictate things
Incipient_Senescence - January 21, 2012
I've been a life long Vols fan.
I came to UT for grad school in part because of that, haha.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
yeah, I am too
for that reason, I tried very, very hard to come up with a good excuse to apply to UT for grad school. but the simple fact was that UT isn’t very good in my field, and doesn’t even bother in my subdiscipline
Incipient_Senescence - January 21, 2012
Yeah, that sucks.
I know we’ve talked about this before, but UT actually turned out to be the perfect school for my field of study.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
yeah, we have, haven't we
really cool that you were able to matchup your team and your field like that
Incipient_Senescence - January 21, 2012
No love for Aaron Rodgers?
Or Drew Brees?
Statistically both of those guys are quite a bit better than Matt Ryan.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
was wondering the same thing
I thought those four were pretty solidly in the top
Incipient_Senescence - January 21, 2012
Yeah.
I consider those 4 the elite group, with Matt Stafford knocking on the door, based on his numbers this year.
I think a step down from that, you’ve got the 2nd tier (but still really good) QBs. That group includes players like Tony Romo and Matt Ryan, in my mind.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
bah, lies....
Aaron rodgers is very good. I will give you that, and yes he’s above Ryan.
But the Saints OL is so good (actually, they get away with holding so ridiculously much) that Brees gets like, 2 hours to throw a pass. So of course he should put up crazy numbers.
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
Brees was ridiculous in San Diego though before he went to New Orleans
Incipient_Senescence - January 21, 2012
There's a lot more to it than a good o-line.
I mean, Brees just broke the record for yards in a season. And he has been on the verge the last couple of years. He’s definitely elite.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
I give zero credence to that record
since what, 2 players did break it and 2 others could’ve broken it?
The game’s changed so incredibly much, putting up crazy passing yards is almost meaningless. ten years ago, 4000 yards passing was a pretty darn good year and MVP-caliber (2 players broke 4000 yards). This year, 10 qb’s broke 4000 yards.
When Marino set the record, he was the only player above 5000 yards, and one of 3 above 4000 yards. This year, 3 players did break 5000 yards (and a 4th would have had he not sit out the last game), and 10 broke 4000.
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
Oh, I'm not saying he's better than Marino.
But I am saying he’s better than most every QB playing right now. Do you really, truly think that Matt Ryan is better than Drew Brees.
Drew Brees: 5,476 yards, 71.2 comp pct, 46 TDs, 14 INTs, 110.6 rating
Matt Ryan: 4,177 yards, 61.3 comp pct, 29 TDs, 12 INTs, 92.2 rating
I’m not saying Matt Ryan had a bad season or is a bad QB. He had a solid season, and he’s a very good QB, but he’s no Drew Brees. He had a ton more yards and TDs, much higher completion percentage, and only 2 more picks. All that, and I Think Matt Ryan probably has the more skilled receivers.
TennesseeTyrants - January 21, 2012
Schaub would have been there also, in a run first offense.
chuckiepoo - January 22, 2012
Me likey Mr. Croom.
RockyTopinKY - January 21, 2012
I'm a big fan of
any player on any team that truly believes VFL
falconnuke - January 21, 2012
Croom is in my top 5 favorites of this class if not the favorite
We live close to Norcross High School so got to see Croom play. Given that he’s the only recruit I’ve seen play and Mz. Terry’s posts on Volnation, I’ll put Jason at the top of my favs list.
phil g - January 21, 2012
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