Underclassmen Watch: Quarterbacks

Declared

Nate Davis QB, Ball State - Nate Davis is one of the most interesting prospects at the quarterback position because of his mobility getting out of the pocket. He has a powerful arm and accuracy to go along with it. After an atrocious bowl outing where he suffered a severely bruised hand, Davis’ stock has taken a hit. He talked it over with his family and they decided it was best for him to forgo his final season. If he can impress at the Combine and Pro Day, he’ll be able to rebuild his stock into a second round selection. Projected Round: 3rd.

Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State - Freeman had submitted his name to receive evaluation on his draft stock and received word that he had a 2nd round value. A new coach probably impacted his decision though both he and his father have said that Coach Snyder had been nothing but supportive of him. Freeman has elite NFL tools, but was stuck commanding an offense that lacked firepower. He has the makings of a franchise quarterback with only a year on bench. Projected Round: 1st - 2nd.

Mark Sanchez, QB, USC - Just a year ago, Sanchez was worried about his knee and holding the starting job. After his first season starting, Sanchez has shown plenty of poise and a good grasp of the game. His draft stock ranks probably just below Matthew Stafford in the class with Sam Bradford returning. Teams have also showed a tendency to choose in favor of the more experienced quarterback, so that would indicate that Sanchez would be better off returning. However, scouts are falling in love with his arm as well, enough to project him in the first fifteen picks this April. He’s expected to announce on Thursday that he will be turning pro. Projected Round: 1st.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia - After another terrific performance in the bowl win versus Michigan State, Stafford capped off his best season yet. Accompanied by Coach Mark Richt at a press conference, both Stafford and teammate Knowshon Moreno announced their intentions to turn pro. Stafford will compete with quarterback Sam Bradford, if he declares, for the top quarterback off the board. Both will have a legitimate shot at going number one overall. Stafford has great NFL tools and a rifle for an arm and experience in a pro style offense. Though he has some problems with decision-making and accuracy, one season of coaching should be able to turn Stafford into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Projected Round: Top 10 Selection.

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