East Carolina WR Zay Jones was going to be a receiver who heard his name called in the 2017 NFL draft. In the Pirates high-octane offense, Jones was a frequent target and made plays week in and week out. In his junior season he had just completed his first 1,000-yard receiving season with 1,099 yards on an eye-popping 98 receptions including five touchdowns. But when East Carolina hired Phil McGeoghan as their receivers coach for the 2016 season, Jones had no idea what a change for the better it would be.
Strictly a slot receiver his first three years, it was quickly explained to Jones by McGeoghan, who came to East Carolina after coaching receivers with the Miami Dolphins for three seasons, that he was capable of much more.