Part 5, QB: Do NFL scouts view Cam Ward & Shedeur Sanders as franchise quarterbacks?
Ward flashes "Mahomes-like escapability" with a big arm. Sanders? He's "a worker" after Dad's hard coaching. Yet, both also bring red flags. Bob McGinn has the intel on all 2025 QB prospects inside.
This is the 41st year, and the fourth at Go Long, that Bob McGinn has written a position-by-position series previewing the NFL draft. Previously, it appeared in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (1985-’91), the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (1992-2017), BobMcGinnFootball.com (2018-’19) and The Athletic (2020-’21). Until 2014, many personnel people were quoted by name. The series reluctantly adopted an all-anonymous format in 2015 at the request of most scouts.
Fifth of 12 parts: Quarterbacks.
Go Long is your forever home for unvarnished NFL coverage.
By Bob McGinn
Five quarterbacks were taken in the first round — combined — in the 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 drafts. Three times as many, or 15, were selected in each of the last two four-year periods: 2017-’20 and 2021-’24.
Back then, the rules making the NFL a quarterback-centric game had yet to be enacted, offenses ran the ball at least half the time and defenses still had license to intimidate and frequently dominate a game.
Many owners and coaches of the era not only believed but practiced the idea that developing quarterbacks was worth their time and patience.
If this were the typical draft of a generation ago, Cam Ward’s talent probably still would have merited a first-round pick but he surely wouldn’t be the No. 1 overall selection. As for the others in the 2025 class, well, they should feel fortunate to be playing today.
“The league has just lost their way,” a seasoned NFL executive in personnel said. “We can’t be honest with ourselves anymore because everybody needs them. This is the most overblown group of quarterbacks. Every last one of them is overrated and inflated. Wherever they end up, they’re half a round to a round overrated.”
Or, as another veteran scout put it: “Quarterback’s a f----d-up position to do. It’s why so many guys fail. You have to have one to win, and then you end up picking one not worthy of where you’re picking him.”
Another personnel man with 25-plus years in the field preferred a more pragmatic approach.
“None of these players will come out ready-made,” he said. “It just doesn’t happen. But those three guys — Ward, (Shedeur) Sanders and (Jaxson) Dart — have enough traits to be starters in the league.
“What’s the difference between 10 and 20? If you think a quarterback can come in and be a starter for you, it’s worth a first-round pick. Quarterback is just different than other positions because there’s so few of them. If you think he can be a starter you’ve got to take him in the first whether you like it or not. Tennessee’s got to play with somebody.”
Can Ward grow into a star? Is Sanders worthy of a top 5 pick? Which of the other quarterbacks is worth a shot in the second or third rounds? See how scouts view all of the top quarterbacks below.
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QUARTERBACKS
1. CAM WARD, Miami (6-1 ½, 219, no 40, 1): First Heisman Trophy finalist at Miami since 2002. Finished fourth in the voting. “He’s the best by far — I don’t think there’s really a comparison between him and Shedeur,” one scout said. “I did him last year (2023) when he initially was going to come out. He was wild. Not a great feel. All over the place, really. But he’s gotten so much better this year. He’s a playmaker. He’s quick with his eyes and the decision-making. His release is quick. The arm is good. He can throw from all angles. He’s so calm and poised. When shit gets ramped up at the end of games he ratchets it up, too, where you see the competitor in him. He’s got (Patrick) Mahomes-like escapability. Very similar to Mahomes athletically. Mahomes doesn’t look like he’s a great athlete but he’s always getting away from people and running. That’s this guy. He’s got that backyard style but he has gotten so much better being on time and precise and with accuracy and quick decisions. Tennessee has to pick this guy (at No. 1).”
Started 19 games in two seasons at FCS Incarnate Word, compiling an NFL passer rating of 107.2. Started 25 games at Washington State in 2022-’23 before rewriting the Miami record book in 13 starts last year. His passer rating in Power 5 was 103.4. “He plays like a modern NFL quarterback,” another scout said. “He can play off schedule. He’s got some dynamic ability. There’s no doubt he needs some work. At this point, his physical traits outweigh his pure quarterback play but we have coaches. We can work with his feet and feel in the pocket and decision-making and processing. Fundamentally, he may not be perfect, but he’s fun to watch. I wish he was a little taller but he’s got a sturdy frame. I would say he’d be a 4.7 maybe.” Rushed 400 times for 486 yards (1.2-yard average) and 20 touchdowns. “This will be the ideal kid if you can sit him for a year,” said a third scout. “It never happens except in Green Bay. I’ve watched him since he was at Incarnate Word. He’s got the most tools in this class and enough size to work with. It’s just the decision-making. Sometimes he doesn’t trust his eyes. Sometimes he trusts his arm too much. He needs a lot more coaching. He’s getting better but he still isn’t NFL-ready from the neck up.” His hands measured at 9 inches, tied for smallest at the position. “He was a disaster at Washington State,” a fourth scout said. “I’m kind of laughing hearing he’s gonna go first. Two years ago, he was throwing interceptions like nobody’s business. Michael Penix and Bo Nix were no-brainers as NFL starters. Cam Ward is a backup to me. He better fit the system or it’s going to be a disaster. I’m really kind of flabbergasted he’s being talked about in the top five. That (desperation) is when you make those kinds of mistakes.” Outstanding high-school basketball player in West Columbia, Texas. “The kid knows that if he’ll throw some sidearm shots outside like a second baseman or shortstop and loft a few deep balls with the scouts there everybody will be oohing and aahing,” said a fifth scout. “His arm talent has been his entrée ticket to every level, and the NFL will be no exception. Is he going to go where they’ll train him and coach him? Because I’m telling you, he’ll get sacked maybe 85 times his rookie year. He will set the record for sacks because he will not get rid of the ball. He just holds it and drifts around and the Wake Forest guy falls off him and the NC State guy can’t get him on the ground and the Louisville guy is just grasping at air. It’s laughable. It’s not even real. Bad body, lazy. This guy’s so unpolished. You recognize the arm talent but it begins and ends there.” A sixth scout said Ward wasn’t as good a prospect as Baker Mayfield and wasn’t close to Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams. “He’s got talent but he’s got a bad body and he’s short,” a seventh scout said. “He’s the best guy but he pissed me off as much as breaking down the good things. I don’t like the fact that a quarterback’s been to three schools. I guess it’s the time we’re in now.”
2. SHEDEUR SANDERS, Colorado (6-1 ½, 212, no 40, 1): Finished eighth in voting for the Heisman Trophy. “I like him over Ward,” one scout said. “He’ll start from Day 1 wherever he goes. Biggest thing he’s gonna have to do is getting used to his dad (Deion, Colorado coach) not being around all the time. He’s poised. Things aren’t going to faze him. He got hit more than anybody in college football over the last couple years (behind) bad lines. He’s going to have to get used to getting rid of the ball quicker. Outside of that, he gives you everything you want. He’s athletic enough. It’s not fair to say he’s not his dad, but he’s not his dad. But he’s got a strong arm and he can slide and move in the pocket. He’s been coached and trained by all these people. I don’t see a lot holding him back right away. And he’s going to work. He’s a worker.” Led FCS Jackson State to a 23-3 record in 2021-’22 and a pair of Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, the school’s first since 2007. His NFL passer rating at JSU was 110.8. “He does a lot of things from a mental standpoint that are going to translate well to the NFL,” said a second scout. “He’s got borderline arm talent, maybe more than that. The concern with him is, at times he developed bad habits holding the ball too long. He’s always kind of going for a home run instead of settling for singles and doubles. From all accounts, he’s a great kid. Sometimes people almost feel badly because his dad is the coach and puts all this extra pressure on him. He might actually thrive without ‘Coach Prime.’ I think Ward has the much higher ceiling. They’re both capable of being winning starting quarterbacks. I think Ward, eventually, could drag subpar talent to a win where Shedeur, even though he did it at the college level, his ceiling is lowest.” The Buffaloes went 13-11 the past two seasons as Sanders compiled a passer rating of 113.3. “The one thing I can tell you is he is tough,” said a third scout. “There again, he’s also a guy who holds the ball trying to wait, wait, wait and make a play. A year ago I said I’d bet my future earnings in the National Football League that he will never put his hand in the ground and run a 40-yard dash. No way, no how, nowhere. He’s a 4.75, 4.8 or worse. You got example after example of that. He goes to scramble and there’s no juice there. Cam has one explosive trait: his arm. Shedeur has no explosive traits. He is the flashiest, most overhyped game manager I’ve ever graded. There’s no way on this earth he should go in the top three. He’s a second- or third-rounder, at best, and he’s gonna go top 10?” Played for six offensive coordinators in his collegiate career. “If his name was Joe Blow I don’t know if he’d get talked about nearly as much,” a fourth scout said. “He’s tough and has decent arm talent. He’s a pretty accurate thrower. Problem is, he’s a complete backyard football player. Hero balls, holds the ball. He’s not going to be able to play the way he plays in college. He’ll get crippled his first season. Not a wow athlete for his size, and not a big man. He just scares me. I think he’s in for a very rude awakening. His dad was so uniquely gifted. He’s not that guy. The (son’s) got mom’s talent.” In four seasons he finished with 30 yards rushing and 17 TDs. “You’re just setting yourself up for failure to take him high,” said a fifth scout. “He’s a system pocket passer without any redeeming special qualities. He doesn’t really have a quick mind or quick eyes to see things. If he knows he can throw it right here, he can do that. He can’t move. Very heavy-legged. It’s amazing he had two sons that played at this level and neither one of them is a good athlete. He’d be 5-flat, 4.9. Let’s give him 4.9. He doesn’t have much upside. I don’t see how he survives. In a lot of ways he’s been trained so much since he was young that he’s almost a robot as opposed to being a natural quarterback. Carried himself like a star (at the combine as an on-field observer). Everybody (on the field) gravitated towards him. He seemed like a very confident, professional quarterback.” A four-star recruit, four-year starter at Trinity Christian in Dallas, he led the team to three state titles. Hands were 9 3/8.
3. JAXSON DART, Mississippi (6-2, 223, no 40, 2): Fashioned a 28-10 record as a three-year starter at Ole Miss. “He’s a guy you take late in the second round or in the third,” said one scout. “I don’t believe this hocus-pocus about putting him in the first but stranger things have happened. We all know that.” Started three games as a true freshman at Southern Cal in 2021 before transferring. “I might take Jaxson over Shedeur,” a second scout said. “He’s got a lot more moxie and quick-mindedness. He’s got a good arm, not a great arm. He kind of heaves it deep. That’s the thing. He can’t really drive stuff. But quick passing game, he’s good. He reminded me of a mini-Drew Lock or Gardner Minshew, one of those wildish throwing dudes that do enough to entice you but ultimately aren’t that great. Somebody will take him second round. He might be the best athlete of all these guys. Cam is a better functional quarterback but if they just jumped and ran he’d have the best workout numbers.” In 2023, he led the Rebels to their first 11-win season (11-2). In 2024, he won the Conerly Trophy as the best football player in the state of Mississippi. “He probably is third (best) but in the last five minutes of the Florida game (Nov. 23) he threw three interceptions — with their season on the line,” said a third scout. “So I think it’s a bit of a fabrication. He’s a good athlete, not a great athlete. He’s a good passer, not a great passer. I never walked out of the stadium or off the practice field saying, ‘Oh my God, that’s the guy we’ve got to have.’ He’s OK. He’d be fun to work with maybe and see what’s there. Is he better than Matt Corral? Yeah. Matt went in the third round (2022) and was a retread thrower at the (2025) combine. His value would be incredible in the fourth, but to take him in the second or third means you’re saying he’s your starter in the future. I think the chances of that are low.” Career passer rating was 106.6. Rushed for 1,541 yards (3.9) and 14 TDs. Hands were 9 ½. “You add up the sum of the parts, they’re pretty good,” a fourth scout said. “Good athlete, runs well. I’d put him in the 4.7 range. He can make plays outside the pocket with his feet. He’s accurate, gets the ball out and is tough. His arm’s good enough.” Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2020. All-state twice in baseball. Finalist for the Campbell Trophy, known as the academic Heisman. From Kaysville, Utah.
4. TYLER SHOUGH, Louisville (6-5, 219, 4.64, 2-3): Will be 26 in the fall. “I know you have to factor it (age) in but if you went out and just watched the guy throw he’d be (the No. 4 quarterback),” one scout said. “He’s had five season-ending injuries and seven years of college. He is the most athletic. He ran 4.6. He throws it well. He’s mature. He’s from the quarterback camps. He’s helped himself the most of any of these guys. If Dart goes second round, Shough’s going to go third or fourth round despite the injury history. He’s just unlucky. He’s no throwaway. I think there’s something to Shough. He’s got to be a little better in the red zone. He can throw it from the pocket. He can throw from different arm angles. He’s big, too. He’s intriguing.” Went 5-2 as a starter at Oregon in 2020, the third of his three seasons there. Started off and on at Texas Tech from 2021-’23 depending on injuries. Led Louisville to an 8-4 record in 2024. Career passer rating was 99.4. Rushed for 733 yards (3.0) and 11 TDs. “He does things that are intriguing if he was a third-year junior,” said a second scout. “But he’s 26 years old. He’s been at three different schools. What are we doing here, people? C’mon. He can move around. He can throw it, and throw it on the move. But he’s so inconsistent and he’s really scattered and his accuracy is not good. If the blitz gets in his face he falls completely apart. He does enough that makes you (notice), then he’ll have five bad plays where he just misses or overthrows. There’s just a lot missing with him for an old guy.” Was the only top-10 quarterback to run the 40 and do the jumps (vertical of 32, broad of 9-9) at the combine. Hands measured 9 ¾, largest of the leading passers. “He did OK at the Senior Bowl,” a third scout said. “He’s big, the arm’s OK, the athlete’s OK. He’s erratic and doesn’t have a great feel for the game. He’s (26) and has a bunch of injury history. Teams will be nervous about that.” Graduated from Oregon in three years with two degrees. Earned a Master’s degree from Texas Tech in December 2022. Four-star recruit from Chandler, Ariz.
5. KYLE McCORD, Syracuse (6-3, 218, no 40, 3): Backed up C.J. Stroud at Ohio State in 2021-’22. Started 12 games in ’23 before being pushed aside by coach Ryan Day after a 30-24 loss to Michigan, his only setback in 12 starts. Started 13 games for the Orange last year. “I don’t understand how Ohio State dismissed McCord and brought (Will) Howard in,” one scout said. “He has a better arm than Howard. He throws it pretty well. He threw for all that yardage (NCAA-leading 4,779) at Syracuse and sort of reinvented himself. He’s definitely going ahead of Howard and (Quinn) Ewers. He’s probably going ahead of Dart. Look. He’s overcome adversity with the transfer. It was probably tough watching Ohio State win it (national championship) with a guy who’s less than you.” Finished with a passer rating of 105.0 in 37 games, including 26 starts. Career record was 22-4. “Those fans and that (Columbus) media market can be tough and they just threw him out the door,” a second scout said. “But this is a pretty damn good quarterback. Ultra-high character guy. Very bright, humble, leader, all that’s solid. Has very clean mechanics, good compact throwing motion, the ability to change his arm slot and improvise when he has to work around obstacles. Has a nice snappy release and good arm talent to make all the throws. He needs to do a better job of manipulating the defense with his eyes. The biggest knock I have, and this is probably what showed up at Ohio State, is when pressured he doesn’t always step up and throw it well. He falls away and drifts in the pocket too much. But the good throws are really good.” Rushed for minus-142 yards and three TDs. Hands were 9 ½. Tenth in the Heisman voting, best finish for a Syracuse player in 24 years. “He left Ohio State because he couldn’t play,” a third scout said. “Now we’re trying to make something out of him? He can’t play.” His father, Derek, played quarterback at Rutgers from 1988-’92. Five-star recruit from Mt. Laurel, N.J., who won three state titles. Numerous academic honors.
6. DILLON GABRIEL, Oregon (5-11, 202, no 40, 3): Finished third in the Heisman voting for the Big Ten champions. “I don’t like short quarterbacks and I don’t think mobile quarterbacks age well,” one scout said. “But the ball comes out of his hand really fast and it’s got velocity on it. He was the difference in a lot of games for Oregon. There’s some fundamental stuff he’s got to clean up. He has some of the tendencies that the SC quarterback at Chicago (Caleb Williams) has where their feet aren’t very disciplined because they’re so used to getting rid of the ball quickly. Their feet are all f----d up. That really has a tendency to unjuice your ball. He tends to get on his toes. He’s like Russell Wilson. He can’t see so he has to get on his toes to throw. He’s got to get rid of that. He’s just got to throw blind. Once he learns to throw blind like Drew Brees did at New Orleans he’ll be more efficient. I’m concerned about his size, but I think if a team makes him a fit eventually he could be a starter. I’d take him bottom third, top fourth.” Accounted for 189 total touchdowns, most in FBS history. Posted passer ratings of 108.5 at Central Florida (2019-’21), 112.8 at Oklahoma (2022-’23) and 115.6 at Oregon last year. Career rating was 111.5. Started 63 games., most ever for an FBS quarterback. “The caveat for me is Dillon needs to be in a dome or playing across the sun belt,” a second scout said. “He’s not a Northeast or NFC North quarterback. He’s a half-inch shorter than Tua (Tagavailoa) and 10 pounds lighter. Tua went No. 5 (in 2020) and Dillon might go in the fifth. I don’t understand it. I think he’s the same player. He really played well, especially coming after Bo Nix. Those were big shoes to fill. Bo was a grab-them-up-by-the-throat kind of leader. Very serious. Dillon stepped in there in his own Hawaiian way and won over the team and won the Big Ten. He knew where to go with the ball. Throws a very catchable ball. He missed some throws at the combine but I wouldn’t worry about that.” Rushed for 1,209 (2.9) and 33 TDs. Hands were 9 ¼. “The intangibles are off the charts,” a third scout said. “He’s a winner. He controls the offense. Limiting his ceiling is his accuracy. Just not consistent. He’s been able to perform in the biggest moments of the season, and he’s been doing it for 5 ½ years. He’ll be a really good backup for a very long time.” Three-star recruit from Mililani, Hawaii. His father, Garrett, threw for 47 touchdown passes as a quarterback at Hawaii. “You can have him,” a fourth scout said. “Just a little guy. I don’t want nothing to do with him. He’s a good player but I’m not sold on these little guys. This guy’s not as good as Bryce Young. They’ve been pushing that guy (Kyler Murray) for all these years and he’s way better than this guy. Even Tua. He’s been hot and cold down there.”
7. WILL HOWARD, Ohio State (6-4, 236, no 40, 3-4): In his only season as a Buckeye he overcame a loss to Michigan by guiding them to the national title. “He won’t ever be a top-tier guy but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him become the best of the entire group,” said one scout. “He’s got enough of everything. He’s an awesome kid. He’s a big dude. He’s a better athlete than people want to give him credit for. He’s going to do everything he’s supposed to. He’s not a jump-on-my-back-I’m-gonna-win-this-game-for-you (player). That said, he raised the talent on his team to the point they won the national championship. Was he driving a Cadillac? Yes, he was. Howard is a better version than Kenny Pickett coming out. He’s bigger, has a better arm. He may be the sleeper of the group.” Started 28 of 34 games at Kansas State from 2020-’23, leading the Wildcats to a Big 12 title in 2022. Career passer rating was 100.1. Rushed for 1,147 (3.5) and 26 TDs. “He’ll be a backup somewhere,” one scout said. “You wouldn’t want him to start. When you watch these (recent) Ohio State quarterbacks the weapons that they have on the outside is always something to consider in terms of their true value. You got a freshman receiver (Jeremiah Smith) who’s already the best receiver in college football. He doesn’t have great arm talent but he’s tough and makes good decisions when he doesn’t have a concussion (sat out briefly with apparent head injury against Michigan). Once they got in the playoffs, the offensive line really jelled and gave him plenty of time to make decisions. It became child’s play for him. Is he going to be a weapon running the ball in the NFL? No. He’s a resourceful quarterback. You can say the same thing about (Craig) Krenzel when he came out of Ohio State. Was he ever a running threat in the NFL? No. Krenzel was a decent athlete. What’s to make this kid any different from Krenzel? Very little.” Krenzel (6-3 ½, 228, 4.81, Wonderlic of 38), a fifth-round pick by the Bears in 2004, started five of his six NFL games for a rating of 52.5. He went 24-3 as a starter for OSU. “Howard’s a big man with maybe a below-average arm,” a third scout said. “He saved the best for last. Played the game of his life (against Notre Dame in the CFP finale). He’ll never play that good again as long as he lives. I just don’t believe it. He’s very ordinary. At the combine, he was missing throws on air and the fans were booing him because they booed him all year when things didn’t go well. They lost to Michigan. Chip Kelly was trying to sell him. This guy’s a third-day pick if I’ve ever seen one. He’s way down the line.” Scored more than 1,000 points as a prep basketball player in Downington, Pa. Tiny hands (9) for his size. “He can’t play,” a fourth scout said. “People are trying to make him into a (prospect). What are we watching him for?”
8. QUINN EWERS, Texas (6-2, 214, no 40, 3-4): Rated the No. 1 overall player in the 2021 high-school class. “He’ll be a really good backup that can maybe spot start some games,” one scout said. “He started out his college very immature. Not a real buy-in-to-the-process guy like you want your quarterback to be. He grew up into one over the course of his time at Texas. His arm is OK. He’s an OK athlete. He’s a smaller, lesser version of Will Howard.” Spent four months at Ohio State before departing for Texas in late December 2021. Started 35 games for the Longhorns over three seasons, compiling a 27-8 record and making the playoffs twice. “He’s got a strong arm,” a second scout said. “Good velocity, good zip. He can throw off platform. Average accuracy. I question his pocket presence a little bit and his decision-making. He kind of forces throws sometimes.” Played hurt (torn oblique, high-ankle sprain) for portions of 2024. Career passer rating was 100.9. “His issue is just overall ability,” said a third scout. “He’s not a great athlete. Being able to escape Myles Garrett and those types of people and still make plays is the worry. He’s not the biggest dude. He definitely has a natural stroke and feel. He’s more in the third-round conversation.” Rushed for minus-59 and eight TDs. Hand was 9 3/8. “He’s small, he’s not mobile and he doesn’t have a big arm,” a fourth scout said. “Does he throw a clean pass? Yeah. He throws it better than Arch (Manning) but Arch is twice as big. Look, he was so hyped. He took all that money to go to Ohio State and then he comes back to Texas. He completed a lot of passes in today’s short pass-oriented system but I thought he was a third-day guy. You saw the lack of mobility and the lack of pocket strength. It just killed him when they got against Georgia and Ohio State. He’s way down the line.” Punted as a freshman in high school, averaging 45.3. Played baseball, too. From Southlake, Texas.
9. JALEN MILROE, Alabama (6-2, 216, 4.42, 4): Backed up Bryce Young in 2021-’22 before starting in 2023-’24. “He has the highest ceiling because of the athlete and how fast he is,” one scout said. “But the throwing stuff, he’s a couple years away.” Recovered from a benching in early 2023 and helped the Crimson Tide reach the CFP semifinals. Posted a passer rating of 116.7 in 2023 before slumping to 95.1 last season for a career mark of 103.5. “I’ve watched too many of his balls hit guys in the ankles,” another scout said. “He’s a rare athlete and, in the right system and with the right coaching staff, who knows what they can get out of him? Jalen Hurts wasn’t the most accurate quarterback coming out of Oklahoma. He’s young. You never know. Jayden Daniels, too. I never saw the player he is now at Arizona State.” Two-year captain. Won the Campbell Trophy, college football’s top academic award. Hands were 9 3/8 after being measured at 8 3/4 at the Senior Bowl. “I think his hand (size) is the reason why he’s so inconsistent as a passer, in conjunction with his body posture and footwork,” a third scout said. “He had three coordinators at Alabama: Bill O’Brien, Tommy Rees and Nick Sheridan. Every one of them left with less hair than they had going into the job. They would tell the kid the play on the sideline and by the time he got out of the huddle it was all (messed) up. He’s beloved by his teammates. He’s a really, really good kid. He’s willed himself to this point. He is a dual threat now because he can haul ass. With the ball under his arm he’s as instinctive as you’ll find. With the ball in his hand in a cocked position it’s like he’s got blinders on. He just does stuff on the field you can’t explain. It’s just an instinctive feel problem.” Rushed 375 times for 1,579 (4.2) and 33 TDs. “He just can’t play quarterback in the NFL,” a fourth scout said. “Just has no feel for the game. He can’t throw. Not accurate at all. He can run, but as a runner he doesn’t have any feel. He just runs straight into things. The playoff game last year (against Michigan) he just ran into it (failed fourth-and-3 run to end the game). What are you doing? Just not a football player.” Two-year captain for the Tide. Four-star recruit from Katy, Texas.
10. RILEY LEONARD, Notre Dame (6-3 ½, 216, no 40, 5-6): Started 21 of 27 games at Duke from 2021-’23 before leaving to post the finest season of his career for the Fighting Irish. “I didn’t mind him but it’s more because of his legs than anything else,” one scout said. “Competitive as shit. I’d be shocked if he went that high (third round). Just the inconsistent arm. He’s just a No. 2. Athletic as hell. He’ll run well. Just that arm’s been a little inconsistent. The plays he made were all with legs.” Rushed for 2,130 (5.2) and 36 TDs, including 17 scores in 16 games a year ago. Led the Irish to playoff victories over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State before falling to Ohio State in the final. “The last game he played, he did some good things from a running standpoint,” another scout said. “I thought he was better at Duke. He’s been a big disappointment.” His passer rating of 92.3 included 89.7 at Duke and 96.4 in South Bend. “The guy’s just a winner,” a third scout said. “He’s a winner in life. He’ll be a third quarterback and hang around the league a little bit. You cannot help to like the guy, and teammates loved him.” Captained the Blue Devils in 2023 and the Irish in ’24. Three-star recruit from Fairhope, Ala., where he lettered in track and was an all-state basketball player.
THE NEXT THREE
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana (6-4, 220, no 40)
Said one scout: “He was better than he was at Ohio U. He played on the ACL the whole year. You’ve got to give him some credit for that toughness-wise. More of a game manager. Has enough mobility. I know he’s been coached hard his whole life. He’s not a very good create quarterback but he can work the pocket.”
Max Brosmer, Minnesota (6-1 ½, 218, 4.79)
Said one scout: “He’s not all that talented. The head coach (PJ Fleck) thought he was one of the sharpest kids he’s ever coached. He transferred from New Hampshire for his sixth and final year. Probably gets drafted late and probably be a quality backup.”
Cam Miller, North Dakota State (6-1, 210, no 40)
Said one scout: “I’d take a flier on him in the sixth or seventh. Strong enough arm, tough competitor, like the way he plays. North Dakota State progressed into throwing the ball more the last couple years. He’s a dual threat guy. He was a No. 3 to me.”
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