The phone did not ring for James Proche on the first two days of the 2020 NFL Draft.

But the wide receiver from SMU, pushed far down scouting boards due to the swath of talented pass catchers available, profiles as a valuable pro who could exceed expectations.

Proche amassed almost 4,000 receiving yards and found the end zone 39 times in four seasons with the Mustangs. At 5-11, 210 pounds with sufficient downfield speed for his competition level, he had no problem taking on a versatile role in college, lining up outside and in the slot.

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Proche's backstory is fascinating: He suffered acute kidney failure in high school that hospitalized him for more than a week. The incident is not considered a concern anymore — it came primarily from dehydration rather than underlying disease — but it did put his life in perspective.

“I didn’t realize how serious it was until after I got out of the hospital,” Proche told The Dallas Morning News in 2014. “How close to death I was. I never really grasped it until afterward.”

Proche plays football with an air of desperation, perhaps his greatest trait being his ability to make catches in traffic and rip balls away from defensive backs. He bails out quarterbacks on a regular basis by extending for misplaced passes.

In receiver-thin drafts, Proche might be considered a mid-round pick. He'll likely have to wait longer this year, which could work to the advantage of the team that pounces on him once others are off the board.

Here are some more things to know about the SMU grad:

James Proche college stats

Year Class G Rec Yds Avg TD 2016 FR 12 57 709 12.4 6 2017 SO 12 40 816 20.4 6 2018 JR 12 93 1199 12.9 12 2019 SR 13 111 1225 11.0 15 Career --- 39 301 3949 13.1 39

James Proche college highlight tape

Two things stand out from Proche's highlight reel at SMU: His ability to make tough catches, and his embrace of several different offensive roles.

James Proche's high-stakes performances

The AAC conference usually has several ranked teams each season, but it's a couple of tiers below college football's powerhouse leagues. That often works against AAC prospects, who are questioned for not regularly facing elite competition.

Proche, though, played well in SMU's biggest games. He caught seven passes for 173 yards and a touchdown against an undefeated UCF squad in 2017 and 12 passes for 100 yards and two scores against the Knights a year later. He caught 11 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns at Michigan in 2018.

The sample size here is small but encouraging.

James Proche scouting report

NFL.com: "Average size, quickness and speed, but extraordinary ball skills that allow for viral-caliber catches throughout his game tape. Teams may see the measurables and move him inside, but he lacks slot quickness and route savvy underneath. Once the ball is launched, however, Proche is an alpha with ball tracking, body control and razor-sharp focus, which makes him the favorite in contested-catch battles downfield."

USA Today: "He projects as a high-end No. 3 weapon at the next level."

The Draft Network: "His experience in a wide open passing offense will transition well to teams that space the field and look to push the ball vertically. Love his body control and ball skills — don't sleep on this one."