FRISCO, Texas – Coming into last season, NFL scouts knew SMU’s Courtland Sutton was going to be a wide receiver to watch.
Sutton had 76 catches for 1,246 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016 and had the prototype size to make the contested catches necessary at the pro level.
Who NFL scouts could not have known very well was Sutton’s running mate, Trey Quinn. He sat out the 2016 season after transferring from LSU following two seasons in which he caught 22 passes for 276 yards.
In his only season at SMU, Quinn led the nation in receptions with 114 and was fourth in the nation in yards with 1,236 while posting 13 touchdowns.
With the draft approaching, Sutton remains one of the top receiver prospects, but Quinn, 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, hopes what he did in 2017 turns teams into saying, "Who’s that guy?" to "Why don’t we draft that guy?’
“I’m trying to give everybody a reason to say that,” Quinn said. “It is what it is. Everybody’s eyes were on Courtland and that’s fine. I don’t need a lot of pub. I play the game for fun. Whoever wasn’t watching me or a fan of me, I couldn’t care less.”
Quinn will take part in Dallas Day at The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ practice facility, where local prospects work out or visit with the team.
Among the other prospects will be Texas offensive tackle Connor Williams and safety DeShon Elliott. TCU will have 13 players at Dallas Day, including quarterback Kenny Hill, who started his college career at Texas A&M after starring at Southlake Carrolls High School. Indiana quarterback Richard Lagow (Plano) and Grambling’s Devante Kincade, who played at Dallas Skyline, also will be on hand.
Considering the football hotbed that is north Texas, the Cowboys have an advantage over other teams with these kinds of visits. Teams are limited to 30 national visitors, but they can have an unlimited amount of local players visit.
Players from more than 30 schools are expected to be on hand.
The Cowboys have used Dallas Day to their success with players such as Terrance Williams, Lance Dunbar, Patrick Crayton, Jacques Reeves, Jamize Olawale, Cole Beasley, Tyler Patmon and Phillip Tanner.
While the Cowboys have added receivers Allen Hurns and Deonte Thompson in free agency and seem well-stocked at the position overall, they have said they would not shy away from taking a receiver early or late in the draft.
Last week, Jason Garrett ran the receiver drills at SMU’s pro day, so there is some familiarity.
“It was good,” Quinn said. "I think he gave us a little taste of what it will be like at the next level, which is really cool. Just having that insight and expertise, teaching us, I look forward to that elite level of teaching when it comes to the NFL. It was exciting to get a little taste of what’s to come at the NFL level.”
Quinn said he has had plenty of workouts and interest from teams, but he doesn’t have a feel for where or when he will go.
“At the end of the day whoever gets me is getting a helluva player,” Quinn said. “And the 31 who don’t, they’re going to have hell. I’m just ready to get it over with and be on a team so I can relax and play.”