Jehu Chesson isn't even the biggest name among pass-catchers on his own team, but Michigan's senior wide receiver could have a playing career beyond the expiration of his eligibility in Ann Arbor.
Chesson has been largely overshadowed by tight end Jake Butt and, at times, fellow wideout Amara Darboh, but the 6-foot-3, 203-pound graduate student received high praise from ESPN's Todd McShay earlier this week. McShay, along with his colleagues at Scout's, Inc., rated Chesson as the No. 5 draft-eligible wide receiver in the country as the 2016 season and 2017 draft approaches.
Here is what McShay had to say about Chesson's NFL Draft future:
After catching just 29 passes in his first two seasons, Chesson had a breakout season in 2015, compiling 50 receptions for a team-high 764 yards (15.3 yards per carry) and 9 TDs. With the size (6-3), speed and fluidity to separate, he creates a ton of matchup problems for defenses on 50-50 balls. He's a guy you love watching play every week: He gives excellent effort as a blocker and shows no fear over the middle.
Throughout his career at Michigan, Chesson has garnered recognition for his blocking and hard-nosed nature, but he exploded as a pass-catching option down the stretch of the 2015 season. Chesson famously exposed Florida All-American cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III to the tune of five catches for 118 yards and a touchdown in the Citrus Bowl and, prior to that, the talented wideout exploded for 10 catches for 207 yards against Indiana in mid-November.
Chesson's speed and playmaking ability will be vital for the Michigan Wolverines in attempting to live up to the team-wide hype, but it appears that he will be looking forward to a potentially fruitful professional career beginning in 2017.