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ESPN+ : CFB QB Confidential - Opposing coaches break down 42 QBs across country
Posted on 8/15/22 at 2:57 pm
Posted on 8/15/22 at 2:57 pm
Opposing Coach QB Breakdown (ESPN+) ($)
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Bryce Young, Alabama
The SEC quarterback conversation begins with Young, who shined during his first season as the starter for Alabama and won the Heisman after a late surge. Young had multiple touchdown passes in every regular-season game and threw just four interceptions during his first 13 starts, eclipsing 300 yards nine times.
"Bryce stands out in a big way," an SEC coach said. "He just knows how to play the game at a high level, very accurate."
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Stetson Bennett, Georgia
Bennett is back after helping the team to its first national championship since 1980. He's almost reflexively overlooked by fans and some media, while continuing to gain strong reviews from opposing coaches.
"Disrespected," one SEC coach said of Bennett.
"Is he Bryce Young? No. But the dude is good enough with his feet, smart enough to extend plays," an SEC defensive coordinator added. "He plays within himself."
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Will Levis, Kentucky
The second quarterback on Kiper's board behind Young is Levis at No. 22 overall. At 6-foot-3 and 232 pounds, Levis brings an interesting combination of size, skill and athletic ability to UK's offense. He had 24 touchdown passes and tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns (9) last fall.
"That kid, he just jumps off the tape," an SEC defensive coordinator said. "I think he's going to be an elite NFL quarterback."
Another coach wasn't as sold on Levis, calling him "solid" but doubting his first-round forecast.
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Anthony Richardson, Florida
Coaches are similarly split on Richardson, whose size (6-foot-4, 232 pounds) is similar to Levis'. Richardson saw limited time in 2021, flashing big-play potential, especially as a runner, but also struggling with accuracy at times. He threw two interceptions in two of his last three appearances.
Richardson is set to be Florida's full-time starter under new coach Billy Napier.
"He looks like Cam Newton, he's that impressive," an SEC defensive coordinator said.
"He's got a pretty strong arm," added a Power 5 defensive coordinator. "When he runs, he looks to run you over. He's got a dog mentality, pretty confident. The inaccuracy on the deep ball is where he's seen most of his problems, but he still can throw a good ball."
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Will Rogers, Mississippi State
There are no accuracy questions about Rogers, who last fall quietly turned in one of the best quarterback seasons in SEC history. He led the league and ranked fourth nationally in pass yards per game (364.5), and joined former Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow as the only FBS quarterbacks in the past 20 seasons to eclipse 4,700 pass yards and 35 touchdown passes, while completing at least 73% of their attempts.
"He understands [Mike] Leach's system well, he's very accurate, throws a very catchable ball," said a coach who faced Rogers in 2021. "Nothing really jumps out at you, other than, statistically, he does what that offense does. He's not a runner or a giant big kid. There's nothing imposing about him, other than he can run their offense well with a great arm."
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Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
Hooker had an impressive first season under coach Josh Heupel, but coaches also apply the system tag to him. Hooker, who was solid but never quite broke through at Virginia Tech, tossed 31 touchdown passes and only three interceptions last fall, while completing 68.2% of his attempts.
"He wasn't very good at Virginia Tech, and yet he's really good [at Tennessee]," an SEC coach said. "So it makes you wonder if it is a system thing."
An SEC coordinator added: "That offense is really creative and really simple, in a unique way. It makes it very quarterback friendly. So he gets the benefit of having a lot of catch-and-throws that go for a lot of yards."
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Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
After Matt Corral's departure to the NFL, Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin went to the transfer portal for Dart, who, as a true freshman at USC, showcased arm strength and accuracy in limited work last season. Dart came to USC as ESPN's No. 19 recruit in the 2021 class, and enrolled early.
"He was the most talented quarterback we played against last year," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. "He was inexperienced, but he threw the ball well and he had enough movement. Projecting him moving forward, he was going to be the most talented guy in the conference."
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Posted on 8/15/22 at 2:59 pm to SummerOfGeorge
Some non-SEC guys who will play SEC teams
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Malik Cunningham, Louisville
Coaches were very bullish on Cunningham, who ranked seventh in the league in passing but fifth in rushing, finishing 14th nationally in total offense.
"I'm sure if you take a poll of all of the ACC and you say, 'Who don't you want to play against?' He's pretty high on the list," a defensive coordinator said of Cunningham.
Added an ACC coach: "He's the most dynamic guy in our league. Super athletic, throws a good deep ball, understands their offense."
At only 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, Cunningham's NFL outlook isn't as promising as that of several other ACC quarterbacks. But he's a true dual threat who can gash defenses on just about any play.
"He's scary athletically like [former Louisville star Lamar Jackson], but he can't throw it like Lamar," an ACC coach said. "But he's an athlete. He can beat your arse by himself."
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Jordan Travis, Florida State
Travis has started 14 games under coach Mike Norvell and settled in as the leader of FSU's offense. A legitimate dual threat, the 6-foot-1, 212-pound junior holds team records for quarterback rushing (1,317 yards) and quarterback rushing touchdowns (17). An ACC coach praised Travis' "straight-ahead fast" speed.
He had by far his most accurate year in 2021, completing 62.9% of his passes for 15 touchdowns against six interceptions.
"Fast as f---," an ACC defensive coordinator said. "He's a good player, but he's not an NFL quarterback."
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D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson
There's a drop-off after the top five, but Uiagalelei will try to revive his stock after a poor 2021 season in which he threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and finished 97th in total QBR. The 6-foot-4 Uiagalelei lost about 30 pounds, and has drawn good reviews in practice.
An ACC coach said Uiagalelei likely was "humbled" last season, noting the "unrealistic expectations" placed on him.
"He's a big, strong runner, but wasn't really like [Cunningham], who can make anybody miss at any time, so I don't know if the weight loss will help him with his agility," the coach said. "But any time your quarterback has a year under his belt, he's going to be better."
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Kedon Slovis, Pitt
A multiyear starter at USC, Slovis will replace Pickett as Pitt defends its ACC title. After operating a spread offense under coordinator Graham Harrell, Slovis now will work under playcaller Frank Cignetti Jr., who uses a more traditional pro-style system.
"He throws the ball really, really well," said a coach set to face Slovis, "but it's a totally different style of offense, so how well is he going to adjust?"
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Sean Clifford, Penn State
He enters his final college season with 33 career starts and holds Penn State's record for career completion percentage (60.2), while ranking second in passing touchdowns (62) and third in passing yards (7,839). Clifford has been through ups and downs at Penn State, which hasn't helped him in the run game much, but he has an opportunity to cement his legacy this fall.
"I absolutely love him," a Big Ten coach said. "He's really talented. Looking at him this offseason, it's like, 'Wow, this kid's legit.'"
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Jayden de Laura, Arizona
Coaches think de Laura can spark Arizona after winning Pac-12 Offensive Freshman Player of the Year honors in 2021.
"I like him, he's so competitive," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. "He can sling the ball. For the most part, he's a good decision-maker. He's going to bring a lot to Arizona. I don't say he has an NFL arm, but he has a pretty strong arm. He's mobile. It's just the durability because he's not that big."
At 6 feet tall and 186 pounds, de Laura is undersized, but he makes up for it in guile and creativity, coaches said.
"That kid throws places where he shouldn't throw it, and completes it," a Pac-12 defensive coordinator said. "He does some unorthodox things, some things that I would imagine the coaches are like, 'What the hell are you doing? No, no, no no ... great job.' With him, he seems hot or cold, so the consistency is something he would probably need to work on."
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Quinn Ewers/Hudson Card, Texas
Coaches are intrigued by what happens at Texas, as Ewers, a transfer from Ohio State, competes for the starting job with Card, who opened 2021 as QB1. Ewers, rated as ESPN's No. 1 overall recruit for the 2022 class, reclassified but never threw a pass for Ohio State. Several coaches acknowledged the pressure to play Ewers but aren't counting out Card, "an exceptional athlete," one coach said.
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Adrian Martinez, Kansas State
A hard-luck four-year starter at Nebraska, Martinez gets a fresh start for his final college season. He started 38 games for the Huskers, and set team records for total offense (10,792 yards), completions (670), 300-yard total offense games (19) and 250-yard passing games (16).
"What he went through at Nebraska, you wouldn't wish that on your worst enemy," a Big Ten coach said. "To see the way he handled that was incredibly impressive. He'll do a phenomenal job at K-State."
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Logan Bonner, Utah State
Several coaches mentioned Bonner, who led the Aggies to their first Mountain West title. But Bonner was "made by the system," one coach noted, and doesn't handle pressure as well as Haener and Bachmeier.
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Jaren Hall, BYU
He had an efficient first season as BYU's starter, passing for 2,583 yards and finishing second on the team in rushing (307 yards). A key for Hall is health, as he has dealt with injuries the past three years.
"He can beat you running the ball, he can beat you throwing the ball," said an opposing defensive coordinator. "He doesn't have the NFL arm Zach [Wilson] had. That ball doesn't get there as quickly on the deep outs, but he's just a step down from that. And he's more athletic than Zach."
This post was edited on 8/15/22 at 3:03 pm
Posted on 8/15/22 at 2:59 pm to SummerOfGeorge
No KJ Jefferson? Article is shite.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:03 pm to SummerOfGeorge
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:03 pm to SummerOfGeorge
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"He plays within himself."
Hilarious coach speak for he's pretty average but has a great team around him.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:04 pm to SummerOfGeorge
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Young had multiple touchdown passes in every regular-season game and threw just four interceptions during his first 13 starts, eclipsing 300 yards nine times.
The article doesn't mention that these numbers are in spite of the fact Young was sacked 33 times during the regular season. Alabama's O-line was a sieve.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:17 pm to SummerOfGeorge
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Jordan Travis, Florida State
Travis has started 14 games under coach Mike Norvell and settled in as the leader of FSU's offense. A legitimate dual threat, the 6-foot-1, 212-pound junior holds team records for quarterback rushing (1,317 yards) and quarterback rushing touchdowns (17). An ACC coach praised Travis' "straight-ahead fast" speed.
He had by far his most accurate year in 2021, completing 62.9% of his passes for 15 touchdowns against six interceptions.
"Fast as f---," an ACC defensive coordinator said. "He's a good player, but he's not an NFL quarterback."
That’s good because every game of his I’ve ever watched he was running for his life
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:18 pm to Glorious
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That’s good because every game of his I’ve ever watched he was running for his life
That was my thought as well. I only know he's fast because I'm not sure I've ever seen him get a clean pocket (and he escapes it after 3 seconds regardless).
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:19 pm to SummerOfGeorge
Where my boy at? He gon go HAM this yea frick wit me no cap
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:23 pm to ClesiandSlicedBread
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Where my boy at? He gon go HAM this yea frick wit me no cap
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:27 pm to rebelrouser
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quote:
"He plays within himself."
Hilarious coach speak for he's pretty average but has a great team around him.
Agree to disagree. The system calls plays that he is good at. Lots of quick throws to great athletes combined with deep vertical windows.
He isn't being asked to hit a bunch of tight horizontal windows (yet).
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:31 pm to SummerOfGeorge
Hooker was ok at Tech but he got COVID and they didn't know if he'd even be able to play football again. He also wasn't that good in the Spring or in the relief duty he did the first few games. Hooker came along after his first start and a lot of it had to do with our WR corps making both Hooker and Milton look terrible early on.
Our WRs were dropping passes and running routes wrong to the point that I was concerned we were going to have to hit the portal hard. Several games in though Tillman emerged and WRs got a helluva lot more consistent. But even as we all give Milton a hard time for his overthrows, a lot of that was actually on the WRs not being where they were supposed to be.
IOW, Hooker got a lot better the more time he and the WRs had with each other. He didn't just walk into a system and click. The first few times he touched the ball he turned it over.
Our WRs were dropping passes and running routes wrong to the point that I was concerned we were going to have to hit the portal hard. Several games in though Tillman emerged and WRs got a helluva lot more consistent. But even as we all give Milton a hard time for his overthrows, a lot of that was actually on the WRs not being where they were supposed to be.
IOW, Hooker got a lot better the more time he and the WRs had with each other. He didn't just walk into a system and click. The first few times he touched the ball he turned it over.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:33 pm to SummerOfGeorge
Geez, seems like Sean Clifford has been there since Paterno was HC.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:43 pm to SummerOfGeorge
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Anthony Richardson
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He looks like Cam Newton
Stopped reading there.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:44 pm to tygerphan
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Stopped reading there.
Pretty sure he meant physically. And he does.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:49 pm to SummerOfGeorge
If that's what he meant then it's even less insightful info.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:50 pm to tygerphan
Haha you aren't wrong there. We all have eyes, so, he wasn't adding much.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:56 pm to meansonny
Keep dreaming. Middle of the pack SEC.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:57 pm to SummerOfGeorge
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Will Levis, Kentucky
"That kid, he just jumps off the tape," an SEC defensive coordinator said. "I think he's going to be an elite NFL quarterback."
Another coach wasn't as sold on Levis, calling him "solid" but doubting his first-round forecast.
Interesting dichotomy there — one dude is proclaiming him to be the next Dak Prescott, and the other thinks he might only be the next Dak Prescott.
Posted on 8/15/22 at 3:57 pm to meansonny
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Agree to disagree. The system calls plays that he is good at. Lots of quick throws to great athletes combined with deep vertical windows. He isn't being asked to hit a bunch of tight horizontal windows (yet).
This seems like a lot of words to say the same thing.
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