Louisville football: Tutu Atwell ranked as a fringe first round draft prospect

Louisville football’s Tutu Atwell receives some draft love.

It has been a decorated offseason for the Louisville football offense.

Four Cardinals have received at least one preseason accolade, led by quarterback Micale Cunningham, who currently has 30-1 Heisman odds.

However, the name making the most noise this summer is rising junior wide receiver Tutu Atwell.

Related: What Cardinal is most likely to receive a postseason award?

The Cards’ do-it-all wide receiver has been nominated for the Biletnikoff Award watch list, the Phil Steele Preseason All-American team, and The Sporting News’ Preseason All-American team.

Now, the preseason All-American is getting some serious love from a respected source, Pro Football Focus.

PFF, a site that focuses on advanced analytics to grade out college and pro players ranked the top 50 NFL draft prospects eligible for the 2021 draft, and they have Atwell as the 50th-ranked player on their Big Board.

Here’s what they had to say.

"33. WR TUTU ATWELL, LOUISVILLEThe wide receiver label might be doing Atwell a disservice. He should be listed simply as a playmaker. With a rare blend of speed and agility, Atwell is ideal to play the modern vertical slot role."

It will be exciting to see what Atwell can do in year two under Scott Satterfield in an offense that the coaching staff has been adamant has not even began to scratch the surface.

However, is it realistic to say that Atwell, a player who only has a year and change of experience at the wide receiver position, is a candidate to leave college early and become a first round draft pick?

Carter Donnick of The Draft Network says yes:

"When you look at drafts dating back to 2013, the average size of the first receiver selected was 6-foot-0, 194 pounds. If you go back 10 more years and those averages rise to 6-foot-2, 212 pounds. It’s no coincidence to see that as the league has become more pass heavy and space oriented, it’s perimeter players have tended to shrink down as a result.Since 2013 at least one receiver under 190 pounds has been selected in the first round each year, including Marquise Brown, who, weighing all but 166 pounds, was the first receiver taken in 2019. It’s this priority on pure athletes that allowed players like John Ross and Will Fuller to be taken extremely highly on draft day, not to mention Henry Ruggs III ending up as the 12th pick just a few short months ago.With all of this in mind, Atwell’s name instantly arises as a player who could fit the same mold. Sure, he’s not the same size as some of those names mentioned, but the general traits are there. As a track athlete with plus versatility, excellent vision and explosive playmaking ability, he fits everything that this new age is all about. He may not win in many, if any, high-point situations, but NFL teams aren’t looking for the next Brandon Marshall. They’re looking for the next Tyreek Hill."

Sure, there is still a lot left to be seen in regards to Atwell’s consistency, route-running, and overall proficiency as a receiver.

With that said, Donnick makes a great point that smaller, speedier receivers are the way of the future in a pass-happy, spread out, offensive-oriented NFL.

For Atwell, that is a great sign for his future.