Ryan Niblett WR Texas |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #21 ROLE: Slot Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.30 seconds (97%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #21 | |
| ROLE: Slot Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 11/02/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.30 seconds (97%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
60.3 / 100
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|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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77% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 91.6 | |
| Hands: |
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68% |
| Short Receiving: |
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60% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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55% |
| Deep Threat: |
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55% |
| Blocking: |
|
40% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#1307
Position rank:
#79 (WR)
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| College Games: 18 College Snaps: 118 | ||
ESPN RATING: 84/100
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247 RATING: 95/100
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Kaylon Geiger - Texas Tech |
|
72% |
| Chris Tyree - Virginia |
|
71% |
| Riley Lees - Northwestern |
|
70% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Ryan Niblett played quarterback as a sophomore at Aldine Eisenhower in Houston before moving to receiver and catching 55 passes for 1,088 yards and 10 scores in his final season. He also ran track, played in the 2023 All-American Bowl and was ranked No. 70 nationally by 247Sports.Niblett appeared in three games for Texas in 2023 and caught three passes in 2024, when he also scored on a run. He broke out as a punt returner in 2025, averaging 22.7 yards on 21 returns, second in the country, with touchdowns of 75 yards against Oklahoma and 79 yards at Mississippi State. He was a first-team All-American as a returner and a finalist for the Jet Award. Steve Sarkisian has said he fought to keep Niblett at Texas because of who he is as a person.
Niblett is on the Hornung Award watch list in 2026 and returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown against Florida on 17 October. He has two carries and one catch on offense this season.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- First-team All-American as a punt returner in 2025
- Averaged 22.7 yards per punt return, second in the country
- Returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown against Florida
- Elite speed, with a forty that ranks among the very best
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Just four career catches on offense for Texas
- Slight build compared with most receivers in the NFL
- Played only 67 offensive snaps during the 2025 season
- Nearly all of his value comes as a returner
- No clear role in the Texas passing game
Scouting Report: Summary
Niblett is an elite punt returner with game-breaking speed. He was a first-team All-American returner in 2025, has three return touchdowns in two seasons and is valued by his coaches.However, he has almost no production as a receiver, with four career catches, and he lacks the size of an outside target.
Overall, Niblett is a return specialist who can compete for a job on special teams. He projects as a priority free agent with clear value in the return game.
How other scouting services rate Ryan Niblett (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
695.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
94.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.