Anthony Gould, WR, Oregon State
Size:
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 174 lbs
Arm Length: 29 5/8"
Hand Size: 8 7/8"
Accomplishments:
All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention (2023) • First Team All-Pac-12 return specialist (2022)
“Anthony Gould is a wide receiver with the combination of speed and explosiveness that defenses have to key on every snap.”
Strengths:
Easy speed
Tempo stems/routes
Football IQ
Inside/outside alignment versatility
Concerns:
Physical bump-and-run coverage
Small catch radius; contested catches
Undersized frame/build
Film Analysis:
Anthony Gould is one of the fastest wide receivers in the 2024 NFL Draft on tape. He has easy speed and can gear up quickly to glide past defenders. Gould’s ability to go from 0 to 60 and reach his third gear is impressive. With his speed, defenders must get their hands on him at the line of scrimmage and mid-stem to disrupt timing, not allowing him to gear past them easily.
Gould runs a nearly complete route tree. He is not the average speedy wide receiver. He is detailed and nuanced with a high understanding of leveraging. Gould attacks DBs with a smooth tempo and stems work to push them off his desired route path to free himself at the breakpoint. This makes him a difficult receiver to defend. Gould uses quick, intentional, and sudden movements to defeat press alignment. His footwork in the contact window is strong enough to force the defender’s gate (hips) to open on Gould’s terms.
Gould can struggle with physicality in the contact window when a DB can get their hands on him. His strength is not enough to consistently dislodge the DB’s hands. Gould has a smaller frame with a limited catch radius. Passes helmet or higher will be more difficult for Gould to reel in, especially in tightly contested coverage.
Gould projects as a starting-caliber Z/slot receiver who brings impressive speed and deep play-making ability. As a result of his smaller frame and limited catch radius, he will probably see more snaps in the slot. Nonetheless, Gould is a playmaker on offense and special teams with his return game value.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Damian Parson
Exposures: UCLA (2023), Oregon (2023), Washington (2023), Washington State (2023)
