Ex-NFL All-Pro Criticizes Former FSU Football Star Ahead of NFL Draft
The former Seminole didn’t earn a good review pro football player turned media personality, Steve Smith Sr.
The 2024 NFL Draft is right around the corner with the Combine set to take place in Indianapolis later in February. Top prospects will be utilizing the yearly event to boost their respective stocks through interviews and on-field testing.
There are plenty of polarizing players in the draft but there might not be another who has received the number of mixed reviews of former Florida State star, Johnny Wilson. The massive wide receiver is truly one-of-a-kind with his blend of size, athleticism, and ability to make special catches.
With that being said, Wilson is still working on his consistency as he had plenty of mind-numbing drops during his two years at Florida State. He was also beat up for much of the 2023 season after suffering two concussions in a three-week span in October.
Former NFL All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. was known for his fiery personality as much as his play on the field during his 16 years in the league. After retiring from football, Smith Sr. has moved into the media and he isn’t afraid to mince words.
While previewing the wide receiver prospects in the upcoming draft, Smith Sr. criticized Wilson’s skill set. He acknowledged ahead of time that his opinion was going to upset people so decide for yourself if his rant is a little much.
“This is where some people are going to get a little butthurt. Johnny Wilson, my man, No. 14 from Florida State, 6-foot-7, 237 pounds. He is not a good multitasker,” Smith Sr. said on Cut To It. “That boy can’t chew gum and tie his shoe at the same time, he’s struggling. When you look at the size, 6-foot-7, 237 pounds, we hear this word, we heard it about a lot of people, he’s a freak. Maybe at night but it ain’t on the football field, I’m just telling you.”
Wilson is coming off a season where he caught 41 passes for 617 yards and two touchdowns. Most of that production came in the first five games of the year as he crossed the 100+ receiving yard mark against Boston College and Clemson while scoring his only two touchdowns of his junior campaign in a win over Virginia Tech.
The Arizona State transfer showed off the full range of his abilities the previous year. In his first season in Tallahassee, Wilson hauled in 43 catches for 897 yards and five touchdowns. He set an FSU Bowl record with eight grabs for 202 yards in the Cheez-It Bowl win over Oklahoma.
Smith Sr. did have a brief compliment for fellow former FSU standout wide receiver, Keon Coleman.
“There’s some good things. Now, I’m gonna tip my hat,” Coleman Sr. said.
Regardless of what Smith Sr. thinks, Wilson and Coleman are both likely to hear their names called as top-100 picks in April. There’s a chance that Coleman comes off the board in the first round.
