Ian Strong WR California |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Jersey: #9 ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2027 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FORTY time: 4.60 seconds (18%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Jersey: #9 | |
| ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
| Last Updated: 08/03/2026 | |
| Draft Year: 2027 | |
| Forty time: 4.60 seconds (18%*) | |
| Overall Rating: |
84.3 / 100
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 101.3 | |
| Hands: |
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85% |
| Short Receiving: |
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84% |
| Intermediate Routes: |
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88% |
| Deep Threat: |
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89% |
| Blocking: |
|
57% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#93
Position rank:
#16 (WR)
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| College Games: 35 College Snaps: 1643 | ||
ESPN RATING: 74/100
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247 RATING: 89/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Keon Coleman - Florida State |
|
95% |
| Pat Bryant - Illinois |
|
92% |
| Denzel Boston - Washington |
|
87% |
Draft Profile: Bio
The St. Anthony's product from Long Island held only one other offer, from Bucknell, before Rutgers signed the converted safety, whom 247Sports rated New York's top player. After 16 catches as a true freshman in 2023, Strong broke out with 43 receptions for 676 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten recognition and Rutgers Athletics Sophomore of the Year honors.A Biletnikoff Award watch list selection, Strong led Rutgers in 2025 with 52 catches for 762 yards and five touchdowns over 10 games, ranking fifth in the Big Ten at 76.2 receiving yards per game. He caught eight passes for 151 yards against Iowa, posted 124 yards at Washington, and hauled in three touchdowns in a 35-20 November win over Maryland.
Strong closed his Rutgers career with 111 receptions for 1,668 yards and 12 touchdowns across three seasons. After the season he entered the transfer portal, visited Notre Dame and California, and signed with Cal for 2026 as one of the cycle's top-rated transfer receivers.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Reliable hands rarely fail him, dropped just one pass all season
- Strong contested-catch winner, took 17 of 31 tight windows in 2025
- Big 6-foot-3 boundary frame that boxes out smaller corners
- Went for 151 on Iowa and nine catches with two scores at Miami
- Converted safety who plays with toughness through contact
- Balanced, high grades across the deep and intermediate levels
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Below-average speed, does not separate vertically on burst
- Limited yards after the catch, wins on positioning over quickness
- Leans heavily on contested wins rather than clean separation
- Only two years of high-level production at receiver
Scouting Report: Summary
Ian Strong wins without a fast forty, and the tape makes the case. A converted safety who led Rutgers with 762 yards and five scores, he dropped just one pass all season and won 17 of 31 contested targets, a 6-foot-3 boundary receiver who treats the catch point as his edge. His 151-yard game against Iowa and a two-score afternoon at Miami showed a receiver who produces against quality coverage.The limiter is speed. His timed number sits well below the position line, so he wins with positioning, strength and reliable hands rather than by pulling away, and his yards after the catch stay modest because the separation is not there. He leans on contested wins, which raises the bar for the hands to stay dependable at the next level. His background as a former defensive back also hints at special-teams value that adds another route onto a roster.
He fits a timing offense that wants a possession X on the boundary and a red-zone target to trust in traffic, and he carries that game to Cal in 2026. Overall, the hands and competitiveness are the foundation, and while he will not stress a defense vertically, Strong projects as a dependable possession receiver with a high floor and a clear third-down role.
How other scouting services rate Ian Strong (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
145.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
7.0
*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.