Down by two possessions on third and long, Nikko Remigio made a play Fresno State desperately needed.
San Diego State was leading 14-3 during a Mountain West contest last season, and the Bulldogs had driven down to the Aztecs’ 21-yard line midway through the second quarter.
On third and 12, Remigio was the middle wide receiver among three to the right of the formation. He ran a simple go route, but he slightly turned and found space between defenders.
Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener located the open wideout in the end zone, and Remigio hauled in the touchdown with ease. This helped the Bulldogs close the deficit and eventually win a close game.
Remigio could end up helping teams win in the NFL, too.
Nikko Remigio Stats And Highlights
Remigio became the first Fresno State player to earn all-conference accolades at two different positions in the same season. This alone proves how he can benefit an NFL team in multiple ways.
Remigio was on the All-Mountain West second team as a receiver and as a punt returner in 2022. He was third in the conference with 74 receptions and six receiving touchdowns as well as fifth with 852 receiving yards.
One of the highlights of his season was the Mountain West Championship as he totaled over 200 all-purpose yards in a win over Boise State. He caught five passes for 68 yards, returned two kicks for 57 yards, and returned three punts for 82 yards including a 70-yard touchdown midway through the second quarter to give his team a lead it would never relinquish.
Remigio transferred to Fresno State from Cal last offseason. There, he played 36 games with 16 starts in four years and accumulated 903 yards and seven touchdowns on 76 receptions as well as 1,871 all-purpose yards.
Nikko Remigio Draft Projection
Though some are predicting he’ll go in the seventh round or not be drafted at all, Remigio could be drafted as high as the fifth round. If he lands on the right team and earns the best role for him, he could be catching plenty of passes as a rookie.
Nikko Remigio Draft Profile
Remigio played out of the slot 84% of the time at Fresno State, according to Pro Football Focus. At 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, that’s probably where he’ll mostly play in the NFL as well.
Remigio showed great bursts of speed at the snap. As seen on his kick and punt returns, he has both excellent acceleration and downfield speed.
Remigio was great at finding open spaces within a defense’s coverage as he did against San Diego State. He’s also not afraid of catching passes over the middle, even when he knows a safety is barreling toward him.
Remigio ran a lot of quick slants at Fresno State, which had an offensive lineup loaded with talent. However, he was tied for 17th in PFF’s grades of receivers on intermediate routes (10 to 19 yards downfield) among those with at least 20% of the most targets in the country. So it’ll be interesting to see if Remigio can expand his route-running capabilities.
Remigio dropped just three passes in college, and the NFL passer rating on targets his way was 119.8 at Fresno State. He has great hands and maximizes the opportunities he’s given.
But even if it’s only as a returner, Remigio could be a valuable addition for an NFL team, especially if he’s drafted on Day 3.
