Laquon Treadwell “Wasn’t Healthy At All” In 2015

In the lead-up to the 2016 NFL Draft, Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell was one of the more scrutinized players at the wide receiver position. Originally thought to be a top ten pick, a slow 40-yard dash time at his Pro Day led to him falling into the lap of the Minnesota Vikings at #23 overall. This happened despite Treadwell catching 82 passes for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final season with the Rebels.

Apparently, Treadwell did all of that while playing all of the 2015 college season at less than optimal health.

According to an interview with Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Treadwell says that he wasn’t healthy at any point during the 2015 season. He suffered a nasty leg injury against Auburn that ended his 2014 season, and didn’t get fully healthy before last season started.

“I was definitely tentative,’’ Treadwell said. “I wasn’t 100 percent at all last season. I would just say (he was 100 percent) to get everyone off of me. I was like, ‘I can’t focus on what I need to focus on because everybody was asking me every day what I felt, what percentage I was.’ I just said, ‘I feel good, I’m 100 percent.’ But then after I went home at night, I was like, ‘I don’t feel right.’

“I wasn’t 100 percent in anything I did from the beginning of spring ball (in 2015) to pro day (at Mississippi on March 28). I was playing on one leg my whole junior season. Last year wasn’t fun going out and being hurt and trying to play.”

. . .

“It felt like I had a fire in my foot,’’ Treadwell said. “I would cry myself to sleep, get up and cry myself back to sleep. But I said, ‘I’m not taking the pills any more because when I get back healthy I’m going to remember this pain that I felt.’ I felt I would then never take the game for granted.’’

For only playing on one leg, Treadwell was still pretty darn impressive in his final season at Ole Miss. If he’s finally back to 100% health going into his rookie season in the NFL, he’s going to have a shot to do some pretty good things for an offense that could use a boost.