Illinois Football: Illini WR Josh Imatorbhebhe enters 2021 NFL Draft
An Illinois football wide receiver has officially put his name in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Illini wide receiver Josh Imatorbhebhe took to Twitter on Thursday to announce that he was declaring for the draft. The talented wide receiver ends his collegiate career and looks to build his resume for the future.
Coming out of North Gwinnett High school in Georgia, Imatorbhebhe was one of the coveted recruits in the class of 2016. A four-star who was the No. 123 player in the nation, the 6-foot-2 pass-catcher had various programs eyeing him.
The USC Trojans would be the eventual landing spot, but things didn’t go as planned with the Trojans. Two seasons with USC resulted in a total of 2 receptions for 11 yards. After sitting out 2018 due to an injury, Imatorbhebhe decided to become a graduate transfer.
Illinois would be the next landing spot for the Gwinnett star. Imatorbhebhe’s first season with the Illini was somewhat of a success, catching 33 passes for 634 yards and 9 touchdowns. But year two wasn’t nearly as good.
Due to the pandemic, Illinois went through a carousel of quarterbacks leading to a down year for Imatorbhebhe. He finished his 2020 campaign with 22 receptions for 297 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Where will Imatorbhebhe get picked in the NFL Draft?
Imatorbhebhe looks to get picked in the NFL Draft, but those prospects aren’t looking great. He is currently ranked by The Draft Network as the No. 228 player in the upcoming draft. He is also the No. 34 wide receiver among all of the entrants.
Thankfully, the NFL is extremely pass-heavy right now, so the premium on wide receivers is increasing. I believe Imatorbhebhe has another great attribute to show off, and that is his athletic ability.
You have seen the videos of Imatorbhebhe in the past. He jumps extremely high with a 46-inch vertical. If there is a scouting combine in 2021 and Imatorbhebhe is invited, then he will wow some people. At a bare minimum, he is going to impress at the Illinois pro day, as long as he can catch the ball.
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The Imatorbhebhe era is over for the Illinois football program. His career ending coincides with a major change with the program. Hopefully, both he and the Illini can see great success in 2021.