Darren Waller

A three-star safety recruit out of high school, Waller committed to Georgia Tech over offers from Illinois and Kentucky. He moved to wide receiver once he joined the Yellow Jackets and played a special teams role as a true freshman. Waller started 10 games in 2012 as a sophomore and recorded eight catches for 162 yards. He started four games in 2013 and finished among team leaders with 17 receptions for 367 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 21.6 yards per catch. Waller had his best season in 2014 with 26 catches and 442 yards and six touchdowns over eight starts. He participated in the 2015 East-West Shrine Game.

uses his long, strong strides to eat up grass vertically...effective downfield threat, tracking the ball well...tough over the middle of the field with the size and contact balance to take hits...heady blocker and competitive finisher with the awareness and functional strength in his hands.

WEAKNESSES

strengths

A big-bodied target with solid build and long arms...uses his frame to box out defenders, making it tough for defenders to reach around him and make a play on the ball...snatches the ball out of the clouds with a large catching radius above his shoulders...catches the ball well away from his body and increases his aggression in 50/50 situations...has the frame to break tackles and create after initial contact - averaged 19.0 yards per catch in college.

average route burst and has a tough time mixing his gears downfield...stiff ankles and struggles to dip in/out of his breaks, playing upright and awkward at the top of his routes...tips his hand and rounds patterns, lacking the suddenness to fool defenders and consistently separate...not an elusive player in space and won't routinely make defenders miss as a ballcarrier.

High-cut and lacks the flexibility to pluck off his shoelaces...will catch the ball with his body and has too many focus drops on film...limited route-running experience in Georgia Tech's offense...small sample size with only 51 career catches, averaging only one reception per game played in college...has some off-field issues that need addressed after multiple suspensions for violating team rules - suspended the first two games of 2014 for testing positive for marijuana.

summary

An imposing target, Waller looks the part with smooth athleticism in a straight line and a large catching radius to highpoint and climb the ladder. He has the toughness and competitive drive for the next level, but is still very raw at the position with unpolished routes and inexperience due to Georgia Tech's triple option offense. Waller has some off-field issues that need investigated and isn't ready for NFL action right now, but he has the size/speed skill-set worth developing as a late round pick or priority free agent - piece of clay ready to be molded.

North Cobb HS

Played for coach Shane Queen

Good student with lofty high school GPA

Earned three stars from both Rivals and Scout

Earned three varsity letters and served two years as team captain

Played wide receiver and defensive back

Played on regional championship team in 2007

Named first-team all-county and all-region, and second-team all-state as senior

Invited to play in Cobb Senior Bowl

Had 71-yard TD reception against Hillgrove

Recorded 19 tackles as junior against Cherokee

Played three seasons on basketball team.

Full name is Darren Charles Waller

Parents are Dorian and Charlena

Has one sibling, Deanna

Born Sept. 13, 1992 in Landover, Md.

Has previously lived in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Marietta, Ga.

Has three uncles who all played for Johnson C. Smith University

Great grandfather was Fats Waller, legendary jazz musician.