Laquon Treadwell out to prove himself

Former Ole Miss wideout Laquon Treadwell is in a battle to be the first receiver off the board come April 28 but he appeared to hurt his case with a slow 40-yard dash at his pro day.

Treadwell's 4.65-second time increased concerns that he doesn't possess the straight-line speed to be a top receiver in the NFL, however, the 20-year-old is apparently unconcerned with the perception.

"I know how to get off the ball and I know how to get going," Treadwell told ESPN's Matt Bowen recently. "That's what counts."

Treadwell suffered a severe leg injury in 2014, and while he still put up impressive numbers last season - 82 catches for 1,153 yards and 11 touchdowns - he said he never felt completely healthy all campaign.

"I wasn't 100 percent the whole year," Treadwell said. "I basically played in the SEC on one leg. And to see the things I did on just natural ability and competing at a high level ... that's unbelievable to me."

Treadwell's game is based more around making contested catches, gaining separation through his route-running prowess, and excelling over the middle of the field. While he doesn't possess the type of explosion as other receivers in this class, such as Corey Coleman or Will Fuller, Treadwell remains confident that he'll prove his doubters wrong and become an upper-echelon receiver for whoever drafts him.

"I let guys talk and let everyone say what they want to say about me," Treadwell said. "I know what my goals are, I know what I want to accomplish. It's about the long run. It's about two years down the road when I'm one of the top receivers and guys gotta get ready to match up against me."