Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond isn’t shying away from criticism-and he’s making it clear he’s not here for lazy stereotypes.
After an anonymous scout took aim at Bond in a pre-draft report shared by longtime NFL insider Bob McGinn, labeling him a “selfish, diva wide receiver,” the former Longhorn fired back with a sharp and confident response in an appearance on Club Shay Shay with Shannon Sharpe.
The comment, part of a March 24 scouting breakdown, quickly made its rounds online. The unnamed scout described Bond as “generic boilerplate, selfish, diva,”drawing backlash from fans and prompting Sharpe to ask Bond directly about it.
Bond didn’t hesitate.
“This [past] season, I did suffer a high ankle sprain, grade 3,” he told Sharpe. “When others told me to shut it down, I chose to stay and fight with my teammates and try to win a national championship.”
Bond transferred to Texas in 2024 after two seasons with Alabama. Despite battling injury, he still managed 34 catches for 540 yards and five touchdowns-solid production for a player working through pain and adjusting to a new offense.
Not about flash-just football
Bond’s game has never been about theatrics. Coaches and teammates have often praised his focus and team-first mentality. And with pre-draft meetings already in the books with the Bills, Browns, Packers, and Falcons-plus upcoming visits to the Chiefs and Titans-it’s clear that NFL teams are interested in more than what one scout had to say.
ESPN’s Jordan Reid weighed in recently, saying Bond is “explosive, polished, and plays with grit,” noting that the diva comment “felt off-base.”
Bond’s projected to go in the third or fourth round, but his confidence hasn’t wavered. “I’m just gonna let my work speak,” he said. “All that extra noise? That’s not me.”
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