The NFL Draft class of 2014 could potentially be one of the best in some time. Headlined by Marquise Lee and Sammy Watkins, who are possible top ten picks, the group also contains potential stars in Kasen Williams, Donte Montcrief, and Brandon Coleman. There’s plenty of depth as well, with talent to be found far down the list. One of the intriguing names that could be on the list is University of Miami receiver Phillip Dorsett, a junior who’s under the radar, but has plenty of ability, and speed to burn. His talent is undeniable, but is he good enough to be selected in the first round of the draft?

The first noticeable thing about Dorsett is his size. Of the players projected to be the highest chosen at the position, Lee is the shortest, at 6’0”. Dorsett is 5’9” and 179 lbs. A small stature isn't an indication that he can’t succeed, but it could make teams question his durability and his effectiveness at the NFL level. He does a good job of compensating for his lack of height with blinding speed, and incredible burst, allowing him to get separation, somewhat negating his height disadvantage.

NFL teams love speed, and that’s where Dorsett excels. He has reportedly ran a 40-yard dash in under 4.4 seconds, and his quickness translates to the field. A lot of smaller receivers struggle to be seen in traffic, but Dorsett’s elusiveness and straight-line speed allow him to get into enough space to be found easily. Once the ball is in his hands, he’s a big play waiting to happen. In 2012, he had 57 receptions for 840 yards and four touchdowns. He was also a solid return man. In 2013, he’ll likely be an even larger part of the offense, and improve on his numbers from a year ago.

The biggest hurdle Dorsett will need to overcome to make it into the first round is the competition at the position. If everybody who is draft eligible comes out, there will be tons of talented receivers for NFL teams to choose from. Further complicating things for him is Oregon’s De’Anthony Thomas, who figures to go very early, and who brings a similar skill set. Dorsett projects as a slot receiver, and the assortment of number one-type players ahead of him may be too much to overcome.

There’s no denying the talent Dorsett possesses. He’s the kind of player who stretches fields, makes things happen in space, and commands attention from defenses. A big season with the Hurricanes in 2013 will get him lots of attention, but with the amount of talent likely to be entering the draft with him, it’ll be hard to gain much ground. An NFL team will certainly call his name in next year’s draft, and will get a very good player. It just probably won’t be one of the first 32 names called.