During his senior season at Oklahoma State, Marcell Ateman caught 59 passes for 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns, compiling more yardage than his more celebrated counterparts at the wide receiver position like Alabama’s Calvin Ridley and Texas A&M’s Christian Kirk.
NFL Draft Prospect Marcell Ateman on How the NFL Would Provide Him a Better Chance to Give Back
Former Oklahoma State wide receiver, Marcell Ateman talks his football beginnings and challenges of overcoming an injury. Ateman also discusses giving back and what an NFL platform would allow him to do.
But playing alongside his teammate James Washington, who won the prestigious Biletnikoff Award as the country’s top receiver, Ateman operated mostly in the shadows when it came to the national recognition he deserved. Together, the two were college football’s top pass-catching duo with Washington garnering most of the attention due to the number of deep touchdown passes he hauled in.
The 6-foot-4 Ateman, a native of Dallas, was content to be Oklahoma State’s underneath weapon. But he was not anonymous to NFL scouts, who love his size, hands, ability to run the entire route tree, body control, feet and toe-dropping skills when hauling in passes at the sideline.
Humility and a strong work ethic allowed him to come back with a strong senior campaign after missing the entire 2016 season due to a foot injury that required surgery.
Having proven what he can do last year in Stillwater, he’s ready to step out of the shadows and into his own spotlight after the upcoming NFL Draft.
Ateman recently stopped by The Shadow League’s office to give us some insight into where he’s come from, his time at Oklahoma State and where he’s heading in the days and years ahead.
