Why KC Concepcion is flying up NFL Draft boards

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: KC Concepcion of the Texas A&M Aggies poses for a portrait during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images) | Getty Images The weeks leading up to the NFL Draft are all about smoke and mirrors, but one player has absolutely caught fire in the lead up to the first round. Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion has moved from the late-first round pick, potentially even waiting until day two to hear his name, to now having a very real potential he could be taken as high as No.

11 — maybe even sneaking into the Top 10. ESPN has noted that Concepcion is one of the draft’s biggest risers right now . There’s one very real reason this is happening: Everyone is starting to realize who KC Concepcion is, and how good he could be in the NFL.

More than the numbers If you simply pull up Concepcion’s season stats there’s not much to write home about. He finished with 61 catches on the season in 2025, putting up 919 yards (37th in CFB), and finishing with nine touchdowns. In a world where top receivers routinely put up more than 1,000 yards on the outside to be top picks, it’s considerably more difficult to justify a predominant slot receiver with these numbers alone.

The big thing about Concepcion’s play exists outside the numbers, with the considerable number of plays which were left on the field in 2025. The Aggies had below-average QB play last year, with sophomore Marcel Reed being a good talent, but one that operates entirely opposed to what makes Concepcion a good player. Reed’s ability to extend plays and throw off platform is great for leveraging positive plays in broken coverage situations, but poor when it comes to precision throws out of the playbook.