'Snubbed!' Ole Miss WR Dayton Wade Reacts To Missing Out On NFL Scouting Combine

Ole Miss Rebels Dayton Wade is using his combine snub as motivation moving forward as he prepares for life in the NFL.

Sep 23, 2023; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Dayton Wade (19) / Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

Dayton Wade not only was one of Ole Miss' breakout stars in 2023 but also a staple in the Southeastern Conference stat lines.

He also was one of the biggest snubs from the NFL Scouting Combine earlier this month in Indianapolis.

Wade, the No. 2 target for Jaxson Dart as a member of the 11-2 Rebels' roster, finished seventh among SEC receivers in receiving yards (830), 12th in receptions (55) and 20th in touchdowns. LSU's Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., along with South Carolina's Xavier Legette, Florida's Ricky Pearsall, Alabama's Jermaine Burton and Texas A&M's Ainias Smith all headed to the combine as top 10 targets.

Wade, along with Missouri's Luther Burden Jr., who still has a year of eligibility, were the only two names listed in the top 10 not to be invited.

"A lot of players I beat, you know what I'm saying?" Wade said Wednesday during the Rebels' Pro Day. "A lot of players I had better stats (than). I'm not gonna let that get to me, because at the end of the day, the cream is gonna rise to the top. ... That's how I'm approaching it."

Wade took his final day at the Manning Center to impress scouts before April's draft. He measured in at 5-9 and weighed 176 pounds. During drills, Wade posted a 40-time of 4.4 seconds, along with a 10-foot-5 in the broad jump.

Sep 16, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Dayton Wade (19) catches a / Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Most scouts believe if Wade is to be drafted, he'll likely garner a late Day 3 grade. He could also be considered a priority-free agent given his position flexibility while in Oxford.

"I felt like today was a day where I could showcase the things that people think that I didn't get to showcase during the season," said Wade. "Hopefully, I showed them what they wanted to see."

Wade, who scored seven touchdowns during his two seasons with the Rebels, might have left more to desire, but that's not a death sentence given his schedule. All 32 teams were represented during Wednesday's drills, with several scouts conducting interviews following the events.

The next several weeks will be busy for Wade and his family. He has visits planned with the Baltimore Ravens and Atlanta Falcons. Several more could be on the way following pro day, but for now, it's a two-team race for the No. 2 target.

Wade said he won't be doing much on draft weekend. He's not expected to land in the first round and it would be a bit far-fetched to imagine him landing somewhere on Day 2. He said he'll be watching, but there won't be an elaborate celebration of sorts from family and friends.

"I don't really want everybody around me like, 'Yo, come on,' rubbing my back ‒ I don't need all that," said Wade. "It really don't matter how I get into the league, it's what I do when I get there. So I don't really wanna hear the outside noise and whatnot."

The NFL Draft begins on Apri 25 and concludes on April 27.