Thanks to DAN SHONKA at Ourlads.com for providing the following info that appeared in their annual Draft Guide, which was mailed out last week to smart subscribers. It’s a list of throwing velocity from the top QB prospects. The throwing was done at the February COMBINE in Indy. I have also now included Wonderlic scorers as provided by Bob McGINN of jssports.com
56 mph DAVIS WEBB CAL. W=25
55 mph C.J. BEATHARD IOWA W=26
55 mph TREVOR KNIGHT TEXAS A&M W=30
55 mph PAT MAHOMES TEXAS TECH W=24
55 mph MITCHELL TRUBISKY NORHT CAROLINA W=25
53 mph NATHAN PETERMAN PITT W=33
52 mph DeSHONE KIZER NOTRE DAME W=28
51 mph JOSH DOBBS TENNESSEE W=29
51 mph JEROD EVANS VIRGINIA TECH W=21
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48 mph BRAD KAAYA MIAMI(F). W=34
46 mph COOPER RUSH CENTRAL MICHIGAN.
46 mph SEFO LIUFAU COLORADO.
45 mph DESHAUN WATSON CLEMSON. W=20
Some would question if these numbers have any serious bearing in projecting QB success in the NFL. I would suggest, once again, that it is one more measurable in a long list of numbers accumulated in the prospect evaluation process. But for those who dismiss its significance completely, remember that the margin for error for squeezing a ball into a receiver in coverage decreases significantly from college to pro. QB who can’t rip the ball into coverage tend to be more interception prone and may have a lower completion percentage overall. To those who saw these numbers and declared that WATSON was off their Boards, I would say “REALLY”! That would be a classic overreaction.
Let me also put in a little pitch for a QB who most of us discounted a long time ago in TREVOR KNIGHT/Texas A&M. You can see above that he tied for second in throwing velocity. I would also note that while at the Combine he posted the fastest 40-time of any QB @4.53; had the highest vert @35.5″; had the longest Broad Jump @ 10’5″; ran the fastest 60-yard shuttle @ 11.28 seconds. I happened to watch KNIGHT working out at the Tom Shaw Speed Camp in Orlando in January. He’s quite a physical specimen at 6’1/219. Don’t be sleeping on this sleeper. I now think there is a good chance he goes somewhere in Round 7 and may play Special Teams while being groomed as a possible 3rd QB on an NFL roster. This is also the guy Katy Perry thought was really “cute” and even inquired about dating last fall. Maybe Katy was on to something before most of the rest of us.
Pigskin
