Bears bring in talented WR Victor Bolden for workout |
When the AAF, XFL, and USFL were created in the past few years, it was done with one goal in mind. That goal was to give players a chance to land on an NFL roster when no one thought it was possible. You have started to see the benefits of that in recent seasons as Luis Perez, PJ Walker, Alex McGough, and several others have found homes in the NFL after succeeding at the spring level.
Well, the Bears will take a chance with a former USFL standout as WR Victor Bolden has been brought in for a workout. The 6-0 173-pound former Oregon State WR may be a bit smaller than you would like to see, but he is a big play waiting to happen once the ball is in his hands. He earned that nickname from his return abilities as he has become a return man extraordinaire in recent seasons. Not only that, but he can get separation off the line, and once the ball is in his hands in the open field, Bolden is a nightmare to get on the ground. Unlike many Spring League WRs who were more of a possession WR, Bolden is quick, fast, and about as explosive as they come. Given what the Bears offense looks like right now, you can see the fit that Bolden has with this team, so it makes sense why the Bears are bringing him in. Despite his lack of size, one thing often overlooked in his game is his speed and just how powerful of a runner he is. He runs with a purpose and looks about 25 pounds heavier when given the opportunity to hit the open field. That alone has helped him become one of the better YAC WRs in the XFL, and should everything go as planned, and he would be looking to do that with the Bears. After being a very sloppy route runner with Oregon St., Bolden made it a point to work on that side of his game in the XFL. He has improved his footwork each season which has helped him become a more polished route runner across the board. Another thing he has done a great job of improving at is his ability to feel for the sideline and make the adjustments needed to haul in errant throws. During his days in college, Bolden used his speed to his advantage while also showing off his athleticism to highpoint the football on offense. He was one of the most trusted options for the Cougars' passing game, generating plenty of looks leading up to the 2017 draft. Despite going undrafted that season, Bolden has bounced around a bit as he has spent four seasons in the NFL along with his XFL days. When on the field, Bolden has seen time with Detroit, San Francisco, and Buffalo, seeing minimal action at best. Although his NFL experience is limited, Bolden was a significant threat in the passing game in college, where he came away with 170 receptions for 1863 yards across three seasons. He also added six 100-yard games during his time, while his 5196 all-purpose yards were third in school history. With 2420 return yards, Bolden ranks No. 1 in school history, so you can see the playmaking ability is there. No one expects much out of Bolden outside of being another camp body. However, don't count him out from making the team just yet. He is a guy who can make plays in space in both the return and passing game, which will instantly help the Bears offensively. His speed allows him to be that deep threat by taking the top off of the defense while also being used on underneath routes to turn would be minimal gains into big plays. Bolden is a versatile player, which the Bears are hoping he can do for them in camp.
