NFL Draft Profile: Kalil Pimpleton, Wide Receiver, Central Michigan Chippewas

NFL draft profile scouting report for Central Michigan Wide Receiver, Kalil Pimpleton

The NFL Draft Bible | Jan 28, 2022

NFL Draft Profile: Kalil Pimpleton, Wide Receiver, Central Michigan Chippewas /

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Central Michigan Chippewas

#88
Pos: WR
Ht: 5090
Wt: 175
DOB:
Eligibility: 2022
Muskegon, MI
Virginia Tech/Muskegon High School

Kalil Pimpleton Central Michigan Chippewas

One-Liner:

Small return specialist with good speed and excellent acceleration.

Pros:

Dynamic punt returner who is used as a gadget slot receiver on offense. Pimpleton possesses excellent acceleration and good speed which he uses to blow past defenders from the slot. Defenses have to respect his speed when he is put in motion as he gets to the corner on end arounds. Pimpleton consistently stresses defense vertically and laterally thanks to his speed. His return ability translates to running after the catch where he defeats angles in space and is not afraid of contact, not giving himself up.

Cons:

Very small size puts him well below size thresholds for NFL teams. Pimpleton lacks strength as a blocker, allowing defenders to easily shed him. He is unable to fight through contact and gets clamped if coverage defenders get into his frame. Pimpleton is more fluid than sudden, preventing him from performing explosive cuts at high speeds. As a route runner, he is slow in and out of breaks for his size. Pimpleton lacks the ability to set up opponents and attack their leverage. Tracking the ball inconsistently, he struggles when he has to navigate traffic or the sideline. His small catch radius means he has to separate as he will not win the ball in the air. Pimpleton can suffer from drops, showing a lack of confidence in his hands.

Summary:

Small return specialist who possesses good speed and excellent acceleration. Pimpleton stresses defenses vertically and laterally from the slot. He is more fluid than sudden and shows below-average hands. Pimpleton projects as a punt and kick returner for a team willing to take a chance on his size. He can fill a vertical receiving role from the slot, using his speed on clearouts and shot plays.

Background:

The 2015 and 2016 Muskegon Chronicle Offensive Player of the Year, Kalil Pimpleton helped lead Muskegon to a 12-2 record and state championship game appearance in 2016 and played under coach Shane Fairfield. In 2017 Pimpleton played five games for Virginia Tech before transferring to Central Michigan and sitting out 2018. In 2019, Pimpleton earned first team All-MAC honors as a wide receiver and punt returner and started 14 games. He was named a team captain and recorded 82 catches for 894 yards and six touchdowns. He led the MAC in both total receptions and receiving yards and ranked sixth in program history for catches in a single season. Pimpleton ranked 29th in the nation in receptions per game and returned 24 punts for 208 yards. He ranked second in the MAC and 20th in the country in punt return average (9.68 yards). In 2020, he was named second team All-MAC at wide receiver and named to Phil Steel All-MAC team as both a wide receiver and as a punt returner. His versatile talent led CMU with 26 receptions for 277 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed 16 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged 8.4 yards per carry and completed 5-of-8 pass attempts for 149 yards and a touchdown. Pimpleton accounted for six touchdowns in total and returned eight punts and two kickoffs for a total of 81 return yards. He averaged 82.0 yards per game in all-purpose yardage. In 2021 he topped his career best in receiving yards and scrimmage yards while also having his most productive year as a returner. He received an invite to the NFLPA Bowl.

Grades:

Current Player Value/Potential Player Value

5.6/6.8

1/26 - If you’re looking for a versatile and fast wide receiver with a lot of college production, Pimpleton is definitely the guy. He ended the season with just under 1,000 yards and four touchdowns. He also had 84 rushing yards with two scores and 290 return yards with two more touchdowns. Though his numbers dipped in 2020, they were equally as impressive in 2019, and honestly, 2020 doesn’t even count. Pimpleton has proven he is a terrific athlete and is dangerous anytime he has the ball, so he should be very fun to watch this week.

@NFLPABowl🌹Every time @CMU_Football WR #88 Kalil Pimpleton (5076/164/0878/0878/2978/7018) touches the ball, you get the sense of excitement due to his ability to make a house call on any given play. He can take the top off a defense. Will be fast-riser leading up to #NFL Draft! pic.twitter.com/ARWuEC1dyn
— Ric Serritella (@RicSerritella) January 27, 2022