Wright sets sights on pro football
Former CSC wide-receiver hoping to continue his career after UNL pro-day performance
After a senior season that saw him hit career highs catching 74 passes for 1146 yards and 16 touchdowns, former CSC wide-receiver Tevon Wright, 22, of Miami, has set his eyes on playing football at the professional level.
“I’m really excited for this opportunity for Tevon,” Head Football Coach Jay Long said, “He’s worked extremely hard to put himself in this position. From the day he stepped on our campus, he worked hard to make himself a better football player and a better student.”
Wright participated in workouts and on-field drills at University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s pro day March 12, where he posted a 4.56 40-yard dash time, 32” vertical jump, 9’10” broad jump and benched 11 reps of 225 pounds, in Lincoln. Two weeks before his pro day, Wright said his 40-time was clocked in around 4.69.
One day after Wright’s workout in front of scouts, the NFL issued a memo to teams banning players from traveling to facilities for a pro day.
“I’m just happy that I got to do the pro day in front of the scouts,” Wright said, “I’m blessed and grateful for the situation I’m in, going through everything that’s going on in the world right now.”
Wright said a professional team willing to sign him is getting someone that’s hard working, dedicated and a player who wants to perfect their craft.
“I’m an exceptional learner, I pick up on things really quick, very adaptable, versatile and coachable,” Wright said. “I feel like a lot of teams will like having someone like me on their team. I’m a people’s person and I’m great with the players, like I said I’m adaptable to my surroundings, adaptable to things I’m dealt because I’ve experienced all these different obstacles in my life.”
In 2019, Wright’s 16 receiving TDs led the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and tied for fifth in NCAA Div. II. He was also named first-team All-RMAC.
Wright began his career at CSC in 2016 as a true freshman and played all four years. In his senior season, he eclipsed Don Beebe’s record of 13 receiving touchdowns in a single season and is the school’s all-time leader in touchdown receptions with 26 during his career, passing Nathan Ross’s 23 which Ross set in 2013.
Compared to his junior season, Wright’s senior campaign saw an improvement of 600 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Wright said his focus during the offseason prior to his final year was improving communication with his coaches, quarterback and teammates.
Despite running the offense with a new offensive coordinator in 2019, CSC Quarterback Dalton Holst, senior of Gillette, Wyoming, set a school record with 3,114 yards and 33 touchdowns. Holst said he and Wright’s chemistry played a big role in the offense’s efficiency.
“He’s a hard worker in general, from lifting, to film, to practice, just everything,” Holst said. ”He’s a vocal leader, especially going into that 2019 season. He’s been great at being a leader with the receivers, communicating with the quarterbacks about different routes and all that. The biggest communication on the field is your nonverbal communication and how you carry yourself, he’s done a great job at that and obviously it transferred to a lot of yards and touchdowns for him. I think it goes to his character and how he went about himself each day.”
The surge in Wright’s on-field production caught the attention of opponents in the RMAC, including Antonio Clark, a former all-American cornerback for the Colorado Mesa Mavericks. In September of 2018, Clark saw first-hand the improvements Wright made through the offseason as the wide receiver recorded five catches for 137 yards and a touchdown during the Eagles’ 38-34 win against the Mavericks.
“In 2018, you could tell he took a whole other step when (Chadron) came back up here,” Clark said, “He scored pretty early against us and was having his way against one of our young DBs. You could tell Tevon had definitely grown.”
Clark graduated in 2019 and works as a freelance sports photographer but continued watching Wright’s development throughout this past season.
“Watching his games this year, he was amazing,” Clark said. ”He’s definitely the caliber of a player that could play at the professional level.”
Clark says Wright’s size and deceptive speed helps set him apart from other receivers.
“He may not look the fastest ever on tape, but playing him, he covers ground, Clark said. “He knows how to run his routes and he has great chemistry with Dalton.”
Currently, Wright is signed with Wilkes Agent Advisor, LLC and has a designation with the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League, which gives him another pro-football option if he doesn’t end up in the NFL.
The last time an Eagle was selected in the NFL Draft was in 2013 when the Cleveland Browns selected guard Garrett Gilkey with a seventh-round pick.