Turning a bubble screen into a big play after he shifted into overdrive down the sideline. Using an ultra-quick double move to catch a red zone touchdown. And breaking a tackle while scoring on a short throw.
Those series of plays by Texas receiver Isaiah Bond last season should be followed by a series of questions heading into next week鈥檚 NFL draft: Why didn鈥檛 he produce more highlights? Why did he average only 33 catches in three college seasons? Why wasn鈥檛 he more of a downfield option?
Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond runs a drill at the NFL scouting combine on March 1 in Indianapolis.
The Buffalo Bills have spent time meeting with Bond, first at the scouting combine in late February, followed by a private workout last week and, reportedly, a visit to Orchard Park. He shouldn鈥檛 be an option with the 30th pick, but possibly with one of their two second-round picks (Nos. 56 and 62) if they are comfortable with his version of a recently revealed off-field issue.
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On April 10, Bond turned himself in on an outstanding warrant for sexual assault in Frisco, Texas. He posted bail and was released from custody, after which he called the accusation 鈥減atently false,鈥 but it certainly sent the security departments of teams into a late, fact-finding mission about Bond鈥檚 background.
If the Bills take him?
鈥淚 bring a dominant player and a versatile player,鈥 said Bond, who is listed at 5 feet, 10鈪 inches and 185 pounds. 鈥淚鈥檓 a threat at all times on the field so it鈥檚 definitely going to be a fun show to watch.鈥
A standout track athlete and four-star football player in high school, Bond committed to Florida, but after coach Dan Mullen鈥檚 firing, he reopened the process and signed with Alabama.
Bond had 17 catches for 220 yards (one touchdown) in 2022 and 48 catches for 668 yards (four touchdowns) in 2023. His most noteworthy Alabama catch was his fourth-and-31 touchdown at Auburn with 32 seconds remaining (27-24 win). Quarterback Jalen Milroe stood in the pocket for 5.93 seconds before finding Bond in the back of the end zone.
Coach Nick Saban鈥檚 retirement sent Bond into the transfer portal and he joined the Longhorns. Bond said Texas was the first team to contact him and he committed during an on-campus visit.
Bond鈥檚 2024 season included the aforementioned eye-popping plays, but so-so overall production (34 catches, 540 yards, five touchdowns). He had no games with more than five catches. He had one 100-yard game (103 against Texas-San Antonio). He rushed only four times. And he missed two games with a right ankle injury.
Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond runs past Florida linebacker Shemar James on Nov. 9.
On video, Bond showed the ability to work well out of the slot and lined up wide. Against Colorado State, he attacked off coverage by running a simple out route for 13 yards. He turned a 10-yard curl route into a 23-yard gain. And on a 7-yard touchdown, he was wide left and ran a post corner. His facemask was grabbed at the top of the route, but Bond had time to adjust his helmet in time for the catch.
Against Florida, he scored a 34-yard touchdown on a bubble screen and his speed was on display on a 51-yard touchdown against UTSA 鈥 after-burners turned on, he wasn鈥檛 touched.
鈥淭he amount of big plays that can be made whenever he鈥檚 on the field definitely goes up,鈥 Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers told reporters last season. 鈥淗is speed 鈥 he鈥檚 just such a hard guy to cover and it鈥檚 not like you can double-team him, either, because we鈥檝e got other guys on the outside and interior that are just as hard to cover.鈥
Bond had only four catches over his final four games and declared for the draft. He arrived in Indianapolis for the combine full of bravado, predicting he would break the 40-yard dash record time of 4.21 seconds set by Xavier Worthy in 2024.
Bond ran 4.39 seconds 鈥 tied for 18th (all positions). He improved to times of 4.34 and 4.35 seconds at Texas鈥 Pro Day. By comparison, the Bills鈥 Curtis Samuel ran 4.31 in 2017, Khalil Shakir 4.43 in 2022 and Keon Coleman 4.61 in 2024 in their combine years.
鈥淲hat separates me from the rest of the draft class is the sheer speed,鈥 Bond said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 not a receiver that has the speed and capabilities that I have. It鈥檚 not just speed 鈥 I鈥檓 a complete wide receiver.鈥
