Route Running: A crisp route runner, Lassiter is able to stop and start in and out of his breaks and regain his speed. He specializes in finding the soft spot in the coverage and sitting on his route. He’d fit well in a spacing-based system.
Blocking: Despite being a smaller WR with a slight build, Lassiter is a willing blocker and is always looking for someone to block downfield. He has solid technique and does more than simply obstruct the defender. For a sub 180 pound receiver, that’s all you can ask for.
Contested Catch Ability: Due to his slighter frame, I have concerns about his ability at the catch point when in tight coverage. He’s not the strongest player, so he can get outmuscled and overpowered.
Separation: Uses his route runny savvy as well as his opponent’s aggression against them to find soft spots in coverage and create space.
Ball Skills: Natural hands catcher with no discernable issues with concentration evident on tape. No drops in the games I studied. Lassiter has great body control around the sideline and is able to ensure he gets at least one foot down every time.
Beating Press: More physical corners can throw him off his path and if he’s jammed at the line, Lassiter can struggle to get back on his route. Against Texas, he was able to use their defensive backs’ aggressiveness against them when running fade routes, but more often than not, Lassiter struggles against press.
YAC Ability: Not necessarily a huge YAC threat, but can find the first down marker on short routes or the end zone when targeted in the end zone. Not much of a burner but his kick return skills have complemented his YAC ability when it comes to making defenders miss.
Ball Tracking: Sees the ball into his hands cleanly and ensures the ball is tucked before making a move up the field displaying great patience.
Long Speed: Not much of a burner for a WR in the 180-pound range, definitely not a slow player. I’d expect him to be a low 4.4s in the 40. He won’t be asked to be a receiver to take the top off the defense as he’s at his best in the flats or over the middle.
Versatility: At the next level, Lassiter can easily be a target in the short game and across the middle. He already has 2 years as a full-time special teams player as a returner. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him log reps as a punt gunner or on the kickoff team at the next level either.
Summary: The son of former NFL safety Kwamie Lassiter, you can tell Kwamie’s a student of the game on film. He may not be an explosive athlete and he may not be the biggest wide receiver but he finds a way to win his reps. As an older prospect (recruiting class of 2016) there are going to be questions about his ceiling and how much he can be developed.
Kansas’ offense was statistically one of the worst in the nation throughout his entire career, meaning that the statistics aren’t going to be overly impressive but the tape shows a player that can make plays and find a way to get open.
Filed By: Mike Hrynyshyn, Big 12 Area Scout
Twitter: @MikeH_Draft