While many college football and NFL Draft fans know the name of De’Anthony Thomas, he isn’t the only “offensive weapon” who will draw the fascination of scouts and executives on draft day. Kent State’s Dri Archer may not get as much recognition from the media; he is one of the most electrifying players in the country. Archer is an enticing prospect for NFL coaches with his big-play ability, but the question is where should he play in the NFL.

When determining what position best suits Archer, you first want to try to find an NFL comparison for him. Some will suggest Tavon Austin or Randall Cobb but both players are bigger than Archer and more developed as receivers. Others have compared him to Darren Sproles but Sproles is smaller than Archer and is a more natural runner. Finding a great comparison for Archer is nearly impossible and he may just be his own breed of player.

Archer is listed as a running back prospect, and that will certainly be an option for the playmaker when he enters the NFL. Last season he carried the ball 159 times for 1,429 yards, which comes in at an eye-popping nine yards per carry. Kent State got the ball in his hands on reverse plays, draws, and letting him break free to the outside. All he needed was a small hole and he could turn that into a 75-yard touchdown run. But there are some concerns about Archer’s ability to play running back at the next level. He only weighs 175 lbs. and may not be able to handle the constant beating he would find as a full-time running back in the NFL. Archer also lacks the patience that coaches want in a running back, he will just break to the outside and try to make a play, rather than waiting for his blockers to give him a hole on the inside. When you factor in his size and lack of natural instincts as a back, running back may not be the best position for Archer at the next level.

While running back may not be a fit for Archer, he could be perfect as a slot receiver at the next level. He has lined up in the slot at Kent State, where he hauled in 39 receptions last season for 561 yards and four touchdowns. The tools are there to be an electrifying receiver; track-like speed, rare elusiveness and the balance to sprint along the sidelines or recover after a spin move. All the quarterback has to do is get the ball in his hands, and Archer can make one man miss to get into the open field for a big play. But there is one big problem standing in his way from becoming an excellent receiving options, his hands and technique make you cringe. Archer still tries to let the ball come into his body, rather than using his hands to hold on to the football. He hasn’t learned to catch the football in front of him with his hands and that is a major problem if he wants to play receiver at the next level.

There is no question that Archer will be an electrifying return man in the NFL, but teams often don’t invest early draft picks in a player who can only return kicks. Archer will need to show some improvement this season as a receiver and not commit as many drops. He still needs to develop as a receiver and that will take time with NFL coaches, but he can dominate as a returner while he learns how to become a full-time receiver. Once he is developed, Archer will become another game-changer in the NFL and will become a nightmare for an opposing defense.