From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Illinois State WR Daniel Sobkowicz.
No. 2 DANIEL SOBKOWICZ/WR ILLINOIS STATE – 6-2, 193 POUNDS (RS SENIOR)
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Daniel Sobkowicz 6-2/193 9 1/8″ 31 1/8″ 77 1/8″
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.63 1.53 4.09 6.61
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
10’1″ 37.5″ DNP
*Testing from Illinois State Pro Day on March 6th, 2026
THE GOOD
– Terrific at finding the end zone with 19 touchdowns in 2025
– Plays faster than his 4.63 40-time suggests
– Lots of nuance in his routes, uses head/hand fakes well, understands how to control tempo in and out of breaks
– Good third-down option, shifty enough to get open quickly, and can run complex routes
– Gets open consistently on in-breaking routes
– Understands how to find soft spots against zone coverage
– Good length, excellent body control help him in contested-catch scenarios
– Consistent red-zone threat
– Reliable hands, capable of highlight-reel catches
– Finds ways to get open when the quarterback scrambles
– Consistently performs in clutch moments
THE BAD
– Lack of top-end speed may concern NFL teams
– Is somewhat shifty, but is not an explosive athlete
– Won’t be a consistent YAC threat
– Decent speed when changing direction, but doesn’t have a ton of burst and won’t scare defenses over the top
– Tons of production, but came against FCS competition; things will be harder against NFL defenses
– May need to put on some strength to compete against physical NFL defenders
STATS
– Career: 262 receptions, 3,549 yards, 13.5 YPR, 41 touchdowns
– 2022: 31 receptions, 377 yards, 12.2 YPC, three touchdowns
– 2023: 68 receptions, 923 yards, 13.6 YPR, 10 touchdowns
– 2024: 80 receptions, 1,108 yards, 13.9 YPR, nine touchdowns
– 2025: 83 receptions, 1,141 yards, 13.7 YPR, 19 touchdowns
– Fourth in MVFC in receiving yards in 2025 (1,141)
– Three career rushes for three yards, one touchdown
– Seven total pass attempts resulting in four completions for 66 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception
– 19 touchdowns in 2025 set a school single-season record
– All-time leader in receptions and receiving touchdowns at Illinois State
– Awards: 2023 All-MVFC Second-Team, 2024 All-MVFC Second-Team, 2025 All-MVFC First-Team, Second-Team AP FCS All-American, Second Team FCS Football Central All-American
INJURY HISTORY
– 2025: Missed two games with a shoulder injury
BACKGROUND
– DOB: September 16, 2002 (23 years old)
– Hometown: Arlington Heights, IL
– Graduated from Rolling Meadows High School in Rolling Meadows, IL
– Senior season of high school being postponed due to COVID caused Northern Illinois to offer a different receiver instead of Sobkowicz
– Walked onto Illinois State during freshman year, and received only one other walk-on spot offer from Northern Illinois
– Older brother Max Sobkowicz also played at Illinois State
– Basketball standout in high school
– Says fishing is his favorite hobby, likes how it resets his mind
– Bigger schools showed interest after the 2024 season, but Sobkowicz decided to stay at Illinois State, later saying he’ll “never regret” his decision to stay
TAPE BREAKDOWN
Daniel Sobkowicz won’t blow anybody away with his speed, but he’s a terrific route runner. There’s a good bit of shiftiness in Sobkowicz’s game, especially off the line of scrimmage.
He has a solid release against man coverage as the receiver at the bottom of the screen. He makes a nice cut and does a good job with his arm to shield the cornerback away and give himself inside leverage. Sobkowicz excels on slant routes like these, and is very difficult to guard on in-breaking routes against man coverage.
His arm length helps him against press coverage and high-point the ball. Sobkowicz is great in jump-ball situations.
Once again, against man coverage at the bottom of the screen, Sobkowicz runs a simple goal-line fade. His quarterback throws a good ball, and Sobkowicz easily outjumps the cornerback, getting a foot down for the touchdown.
He’s not very explosive, but Sokbowicz consistently won in contested-catch scenarios. He shows tremendous body control against cornerbacks in man coverage. Illinois State frequently used him as a red-zone target.
This is a fourth down in the National Championship game, with Illinois State down two touchdowns in the final quarter. It doesn’t get any higher-pressure than that. His quarterback notices the man coverage at the bottom of the screen, changes the play, and gives Sobkowicz a chance. That idea worked throughout Illinois State’s improbable playoff run last year.
His length helps him in jump ball scenarios, but his hands shouldn’t be ignored. You don’t really have to worry about any concentration drops with Sobkowicz, and he makes terrific catches.
Sobkowicz runs this route to the corner of the end zone, and his quarterback throws a good pass. He fends off the cornerback and makes a terrific one-handed catch while falling to the ground.
Sobkowicz’s playoff performance against NDSU was phenomenal. He scored the final three touchdowns for Illinois State, including this one to set up the game-winning two-point conversion.
Sobkowicz understands the game well and gets open when his quarterback is scrambling. If he doesn’t find the open spot in the defense here, Illinois State probably doesn’t score on this fourth down, and their season is over.
He won’t beat defenses deep with blazing speed. But Sobkowicz can win deep down the field. It will be harder against NFL competition rather than FCS, but he makes good mid-route adjustments and understands body positioning well.
Sobkowicz runs past a defender here and adjusts well once the ball is in the air. He turns his body towards the defender to screen them off, makes a nice catch, and runs into the end zone untouched.
However, that’s not always possible against better defenders, making his questionable speed a legitimate concern.
Sobkowicz runs a deep route from the bottom of the screen here. He puts a beautiful move on the cornerback, and should be able to beat him deep. But he doesn’t separate consistently against agile defenders. His quarterback doesn’t help him here, but Sobkowicz can’t get enough separation to make a play.
That said, Sobkowicz constantly moved the chains. He’s pretty shifty, especially on short to intermediate routes. “Third and Sobkowicz” may become a slogan for the fans of whichever team he ends up with.
He does a good job selling the fade on this route. But as soon as he passes the first down marker, Sobkowicz stops on a dime, turns to the quarterback, and gives him an easy target to move the chains. This isn’t to say the two are the same receiver, but this route reminds me so much of Hunter Renfrow.
CONCLUSION
I’m really excited about Daniel Sobkowicz. If he played for a bigger school, his name would be more prominent during this draft cycle. He does enough things well to fit in any NFL offense. He runs terrific routes, clearly understands the game, makes tough catches, shows up in clutch moments, and is incredibly loyal. Sobkowicz could have taken his talents (and NIL money in the process) to a bigger school for the 2025 season. But he stayed at Illinois State, set multiple records, and carried his team to the National Championship game.
His lack of long speed and overall explosiveness will give teams some concern. There are questions about his ability at the NFL level after playing against FCS competition, but I’m pretty confident Sobkowicz will carve out a role for himself. He’s certainly worth taking a stab at on Day 3.
Sobkowicz reminds me of Rashard Higgins, who was drafted in 2016, also from a smaller school. Both were terrific route runners with sure hands, yet didn’t have a ton of top-end speed or overall athleticism. Higgins put together a respectable seven-season NFL career.
NFL Projection: Early-Mid Day 3
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 7.4 (Spot Starter)
Grade Range: 7.1-8.1
Games Watched: at North Dakota State (2025, playoffs), at UC Davis (2025, playoffs), at Villanova (2025, playoffs) vs Montana State (2025, National Championship game)
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