ROUND 6: SMU WR James Proche II
6-0, 193 – Senior

Tampa Bay has already drafted a few players that could help on special teams in Duggers and Dallas. Where the Bucs may still have a need on Day 3 is at wide receiver, especially if they can’t re-sign Breshad Perriman in free agency. That would leave a pair of relatively unproven players in Watson and Miller to vie for the third receiver role behind Evans and Godwin, which is not ideal.

Proche was a four-year starter at SMU where he racked up 301 career catches for 3,949 yards (13.1 avg.) with 39 career touchdowns. While he may lack ideal size at 6-foot, 193 and ideal speed in the 4.5-range, Proche has tremendous body control and toughness in fighting for the ball, and in perimeter run blocking. Despite being just 6-foot, Proche has a decent-sized catch radius due to his impressive hand-eye coordination and ability to track the ball.

Proche had 13 100-yard receiving games in college and was the Mustangs’ top receiver the last two years after Courtland Sutton departed for the NFL. He caught the game-winning touchdown in a 43-37 three-overtime victory against Tulsa, in which he caught 11 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Proche would go on to catch a career-high 14 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a 59-51 win over East Carolina in helping SMU to a 10-3 season in 2019.

Proche’s SMU Career Receiving Stats
2016: 57 catches for 709 yards (12.4 avg.), 6 TDs
2017: 40 catches for 816 yards (20.4 avg.), 6 TDs
2018: 93 catches for 1,199 yards (12.9 avg.), 12 TDs
2019: 111 catches for 1,225 yards (11.0 avg.), 15 TDs

Proche also brings some return experience to Tampa Bay. He averaged 7.6 yards per punt return in his Mustangs career, including 9.6 yards on 17 returns last season. Proche also averaged 19.8 yards on 31 kick returns at SMU. With big-play ability, Proche has 11 catches of 50 yards or more, which will appeal to Bruce Arians and make him a great fit in Tampa Bay’s offense.