Another speedster will help Mac Jones’ growth

When Chansi Stuckey played wideout in the NFL more than a decade ago, the league wasn’t quite as receiver-friendly as it is now.

That’s why Baylor’s former receivers coach, who is now at Notre Dame, believes the Patriots were smart to snag Tyquan Thornton when they did.

Nowadays, rail-thin receivers such as the 6-2, 181-pound Thornton have a better chance to succeed in the NFL, especially with many rules in their favor.

Stuckey, who played for the Jets, Browns and Cardinals, is expecting Thornton to help the Patriots offense become a little more explosive this season and beyond.

“The NFL has changed a lot. It’s night and day,” Stuckey said when reached last week. “It’s like, ‘Man, if I had that opportunity, I’d be the best receiver and I wouldn’t be coaching.’

“But the good thing now is that I do have that experience and I can teach … and to get to the next level, it’s all about these guys really understanding how to get vertical, and how to use the release, and I think that’s the biggest jump Ty made.”

Thornton didn’t have much of a problem his senior year exploding off the line, even becoming a little more nuanced in his route-running. That’s why Stuckey anticipates the second-round pick, considered a bit of a reach going that early, will manage just fine in the pros.

Stuckey pointed to several receivers with similar frames to Thornton who had terrific NFL rookie seasons in 2021.

Philadelphia’s Devonta Smith, at 6-0, 175 pounds, was one example. The former Alabama star, taken 10th overall, had 64 catches for 916 yards with 5 touchdowns. He didn’t seem to have too much trouble making an impact.

Neither did the Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle. He’s 5-10, 182 pounds, and another Crimson Tide star who succeeded right out of the gate with 104 catches for 1,015 yards and 6 touchdowns.

They managed to avoid being swallowed up by press coverage at the line. They were able to adjust to the NFL, and get into their routes without too much difficulty.

While Smith (4.37 in the 40) and Waddle (reportedly a high 4.4) are extremely fast, they can’t fly quite like Thornton, who ran a sizzling 4.28 at the NFL’s Scouting Combine.

The receiver, whose mother was a track star, started out running track when he was 12. That’s when he won the junior Olympics in the 200-meter dash.

As Thornton told reporters during his introductory media session, he was always fast. Speed came easily to him.