Jovon Durante, WR, FAU 2019 NFL Draft

At FAU
Redshirt Junior (2018)

• Honored as a 2018 C-USA Preseason fourth team Athlon selection
• Had four receptions for a total of 52 yards at Oklahoma and added two carries for minus three yards
• vs. Air Force had a team leading 174 yards on 12 receptions and collected his first FAU TD
• Had a game high seven receptions for a total fo 72 yards and a score, his first at FAU, versus Bethune
• Recorded four receptions for 35 yards at UCF and added two carries for a total of 12 yards
• Was held to three catches for a total of 53 yards at Middle Tennessee and added a 13 yard run
• Had a team high seven receptions for a total of 111 yards in the ODU win
• Recorded a team high 114 yards on seven receptions at Marshall and added a nine-yard carry as well as a pass attempt
• Held to three receptions and just 27 yards versus LA Tech
• Led the team with four receptions for a total of 55 yards and added two carries for a total of eight yards in Shula Bowl XVII versus FIU
• Led the receivers with seven catches versus WKU for a total of 79 yards
• Had a team high six receptions for a total of 90 yards and a score at North Texas
• Held to one an 11 yard catch versus Charlotte
• Named to the C-USA Honorable Mention team
• Named to Phil Steele’s C-USA Third Team

Junior (2017)

• Worked with the squad but redshirted due to transfer rules

Prior to FAU
At West Virginia (2015-16)

• Had 378 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2015
• Recorded 316 yards off kick returns in 2015
• Longest kick return was 43 yards 
• Recorded 331 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2016
• Had the go ahead touchdown to help the Mountainieers comeback in the fourth quarter to beat Kansas State on Oct. 1st, 2016

Durante was special even at an early age. He and his brother would go on to set little league single game touchdown milestones. Jovon had one game with seven while his brother notched eight.

The tempo was set, and Durante would play all sports growing up and excelling in all of them. He did not play receiver until high school when he started opposite of his older brother as a freshman. Over time his play continued to blossom and attracting plenty of recruiters to Miramar High School to take a closer look.

His first collegiate stop was in West Virginia for two seasons prior to his arrival at FAU. With the Mountaineers, Durante had 378 receiving yards in 2015 and 331 in 2016. He sat out the 2017 season with the Owls due to NCAA transfer rules.

In his only season playing for the Owls, Durante was the focal point of the Owls passing game. Durante accounted for 30% of the teams passing yards leading FAU in receptions (65), receiving yards (873) and receiving touchdowns (five), in 2018.

FAU ranked 13th in the FBS in rushing yards per game (241.8), which left the passing attack left out of the offensive equation. They rushed the football 577 times and threw it only 228 for 2,873 yards. Durante in essence was extremely productive considering the way the Owls played offensively.

Durante is very quick. Can flat our fly on occasion. He shows the knack to adjust to the football and toe-tap his way to a hauling in the tricky catch on the sidelines. He makes the difficult catch seem routine. He flashes some magic when the touches the football. Tough-nosed with a bulldog attitude despite his less than ideal size for the NFL. He will not back down. He could contribute in the return game.

He has the vertical game and athleticism to draw strong interest. Durante is a legit prospect to earn a roster spot at the next level.