USAT: Packers Wire audio clip

USAT: Packers Wire

Jan 21, 2022

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects that could be selected by the Green Bay Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft. - The NFL Scouting Combine is a mere 40 days away. Soon there will be plenty of talk about dazzling 40-yard times and RAS.  - A player that’s bound to turn heads at the scouting combine or at his pro day is Tanner Conner. The Idaho State wide receiver checks in at No. 90 in the Unpacking Future Packers countdown. - For this profile, I chatted with Idaho State wide receiver coach Hagen Graves. - In 2019, Conner caught 48 passes for 791 yards and eight touchdowns. In the shortened spring season in 2020, Conner caught 34 passes for 685 yards and three touchdowns. - This past season the Bengal wide receiver caught 42 passes for 735 yards and four touchdowns. - “Tanner had an outstanding senior season and was a leader for the team,” Idaho State wide receiver coach Hagen Graves said. “He stepped up in some huge moments that gave us opportunities to win football games. He was a big reason for our victory over (#7) UC Davis where he posted 5 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown. He also made a play on a fourth down late in the game at Cal Poly.” - Conner was a two-sport athlete for the Bengals. He ran hurdles for the Idaho State University track team. In high school, Conner was a state champion in the 300-meter hurdles.  - That rare athleticism is a big reason why Conner was No. 12 on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks list. - Conner also has legit speed as he doubles as a standout hurdler on ISU’s track team. He placed fourth at the 2021 Big Sky Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 110 hurdles and set a personal record with a time of 14.03. He’s also run 10.51 100 meters. Conner vertical jumped 40 ¼ inches this offseason and did 16 reps on the bench of 225. - Graves on Conner’s athleticism: - “Tanner is a rare talent that every coach dreams of having on their team,” Graves said. “He has a rare combination of strength and track speed and understands how and when to use them. He creates tough matchups no matter who you decide to put on him. He is stronger than most defensive backs and is faster than most linebackers.” - Graves on Conner’s greatest strength: - “It’s his work ethic,” Graves said. “He does not allow anyone to outwork him in anything he does. He comes from an outstanding family and they all have that about them.” - The first thing a lot of scouts look for in a wide receiver is their route-running ability. Graves said that Conner has progressed in that department each season.  - “Tanner has come a long way with his route running,” Graves said. “He knew that his route running ability needed to improve to make it to the next level and over the past two years has really begun to understand how to use leverage and deception to create separation.  - On Conner’s hands and pass-catching ability: - “His hands have continually improved over the past few years,” Graves said. “He has the ability to go up and make contested catches over the middle and also track a long ball down.”  - It’s no secret that Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay coaching staff want their wide receivers to be good blockers out on the perimeter. Graves noted that they didn’t ask Conner to do a lot of run blocking up until this season. - “This season we incorporated a few wrinkles to add Tanner into the run game,” Graves said. “He improved as the season went on and became quite an effective blocker.” - The best way for a rookie to earn playing time is on special teams. Conner has plenty of experience playing on coverage teams.  - “Special teams are a great spot for Tanner,” Graves said. “As our senior captain, he took it upon himself to be on as many special teams units as he could. He was a gunner on punt and an attacking player on kickoffs.”  - Fit with the Packers - The Green Bay Packers wide receiver room is likely to look a lot different when the 2022 season opens. Will they opt to make Davante Adams the highest-paid wide receiver in the league? Will they bring back Allen Lazard? Will deep threat Marquez Valdes-Scantling get a new deal this offseason? - Even if Adams is back, the bottom of the wide receiver depth chart will likely look drastically different. - With the wide receiver room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue headed towards a makeover, it would not be surprising to see Gutekunst use multiple day three picks on a wide receiver. - Conner would be a low-risk, high-reward roll of the dice on day three of the draft. He checks all the boxes. The Idaho State wide receiver has the size (6-3) athleticism and big-play ability. To top it off, Conner could step in from day one and make an impact on special teams. - “I would give Tanner a shot because he has the ability and skill,” Graves said. “He’s also a great person to have in the building. He is a great person and a hard worker which fits into any culture in the NFL.” - - RelatedUnpacking Future Packers: No. 91 Samori ToureUnpacking Future Packers: No. 92 Teagan QuitorianoUnpacking Future Packers: No. 93 Pierre Strong JrUnpacking Future Packers: No. 94 Verone McKinley IIIUnpacking Future Packers: No. 95 JoJo DomannUnpacking Future Packers: No. 96 Leon O'Neal JrUnpacking Future Packers: No. 97 Jalen TolbertUnpacking Future Packers: No. 98 Luke WattenbergUnpacking Future Packers: No. 99 Jordan BattleUnpacking Future Packers: No. 100 Baylon Spector - - - - - - - - - - - - Email - - - - - Sign up - - - - - - - - Like this article? - Sign up for the Packers Wire email newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning - - - - An error has occured - - - Please re-enter your email address. - - - - - - Thanks for signing up! - - - You'll now receive the top Packers Wire stories each day directly in your inbox.

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