Nick Nash, WR, San Jose State
Size:
Height: 6024
Weight: 203
Arm: 31”
Hand: 8 ¾”
Accomplishments:
AP Midseason First-Team All-America Team (2024) • All-Mountain West Second Team (2023)
“With the speed, length, and ball skills of a prototypical NFL wideout, Nick Nash projects to be a valuable developmental prospect.”
Strengths:
Legitimate deep-threat ability
Great hands
Lengthy frame
Good feel for leverage
Experience
Concerns:
Raises up high on short-to-intermediate routes
Questions about playing outside at next level
Not an elite separator against man coverage
Film Analysis:
Nick Nash’s journey to becoming one of the most prolific receivers in college football has been unconventional. A California native and two-star dual-threat quarterback, Nash joined the San Jose State Spartans in 2019. He was quickly utilized primarily as a runner out of the backfield, carrying the ball 40 times during the first six games of his career. In 2021, Nash served as the Spartans' starting quarterback for six games, posting a 53.6% completion rate, with 971 passing yards, 385 rushing yards, and seven total touchdowns. However, his career as a quarterback came to an end when he switched to receiver in 2022. Following this transition, Nash has significantly improved his receiving statistics each year he has played.
It's clear that Nash is in the right position. It’s easy to see how such a dynamic athlete could make a seamless transition. Even in his sixth season of college football, Nash's best performances are still ahead of him.
Nash primarily lines up in the slot for the Spartans' offense. Standing at 6-foot-3, he possesses a unique frame for an inside receiver, creating a substantial mismatch for defenders. The first thing that stands out on film is Nash's undeniable NFL speed. When running slot fades or splitting safeties down the field, he covers ground with his long strides better than most in this class. He is a true field stretcher. Time and time again, Nash was threatening defenses and forcing them to play soft coverage, allowing his offense to attack under coverages and take advantage of two-high looks in the run game.
It’s important to consider how Nash’s experience as a quarterback has influenced his abilities as a wideout. When attacking zone coverage, he demonstrates a strong understanding of defensive leverage and knows where to target defenders based on the defense's alignment. His six years as a contributor to this offense are evident in his film.
As mentioned earlier, despite being a seasoned college player, Nash has untapped potential. His route-running in the shorter to intermediate areas of the field is still a work in progress. I noticed that Nash sometimes runs high and raises up before his breaks, which can telegraph his routes. I have questions about his ability to separate in close quarters against man coverage and am equally curious about what a move to the outside would look like for him. He possesses the natural ball skills and hands to excel on the boundary and has the speed to challenge defenses deep; the key will be determining if he can effectively defeat press coverage, as we don't see much of it on film.
Overall, given his productivity, it’s hard not to be impressed by Nash. Despite being relatively new to playing wide receiver, he has an NFL skill set with plenty of room to grow.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Exposures: Kennesaw State (2024), Washington State (2024), Colorado State (2024), Wyoming (2024), Oregon State (2024)
