By: Darion Collins

Micah Parsons #11 (Linebacker)

Games Watched: Michigan ‘19, Minnesota ‘19, Memphis ‘19 (Cotton Bowl), Ohio State ‘19, Michigan State ‘19

Summary: Hailing from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Parsons played defensive end and running back in high school. He was also a basketball star at his alma-mater. As a five-star recruit at defensive end and top five player in the country at the time (according to 247sports), Parsons was recruited by many big time programs including Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State and more. A violation of NCAA regulations prevented Ohio State from continuing to recruit him, opening the door even wider for Penn State to secure his commitment in 2017. Penn State head coach James Franklin decided Parsons’ skill set was best suited for the linebacker position. In his freshman season, Parsons started only one game at linebacker, but still led the team in tackles. He was named First-team Freshman All-American. His sophomore year in 2019 did not disappoint as he was named First-team All-Big Ten, a consensus All-American, the Butkus-Fitzgerald linebacker of the year, and Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP. His name was officially on everyone’s radar. This past season, he opted out of playing for Penn State due to COVID-19 concerns.

By: JaDarius McCoy

Trevor Lawrence (Quarterback #16)

6’6 220 lbs

21 y/o Junior Clemson

(AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)

Games watched: UVA ‘19, SC ‘19, MIA ‘20, ND ‘20, OSU ‘20

Summary:

Trevor Lawrence was the number 1 QB in the nation following his Senior season at Cartersville High School and was highly recruited across the country by large programs.

 

He won the starting job from Kelly Bryant as a freshman in 2018 and garnered top honors for the most outstanding college football freshman.

 

In 2019, he led the Tigers to the National Championship, where he dueled the Alabama Crimson Tide. He led the Tigers to a 44-16 victory with 347 yards and three touchdowns.

 

In 2020, he became the second Clemson Heisman Finalist, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award finalist, Davey O’Brien Award Finalist, and Walter Camp Player of the Year Finalist.

 

Lawrence finishes his collegiate career at Clemson as the 3rd all-time passing yards leader with 10,098 yards, 2nd all-time passing touchdowns leader with 90, and the all-time QB rating leader (164.3). He is also the all-time winningest Quarterback in Clemson history with 34 wins and just two losses.

Strengths:

• Great zip; can make any throw.
• Timing and anticipation
• Sees the field exceptionally well, excels with progressions.
• Great footwork
• Feels pressure well
• Athletic long strider; eats up yards in the open field.
• Ability to make throws off-platform
• Ability to deliver a throw from a collapsing pocket.

 Weaknesses:

• Quick read plays can be rushed
• Anticipation can get him in trouble down the field

 

 Conclusion:

Trevor Lawrence has been a leader for Clemson since 2018, showing toughness and consistency on the field. He assumed control of the offense at the line at Clemson throughout his career. He demonstrated a natural ability to understand the game and to put his teammates in the best position to succeed on the field.

 

He looked much more comfortable with going through progressions and picking his spots than with predetermined throws, and it could be due to his quick processing speed.

 

He can throw to spots or lead his receivers. Lawrence has put together a dominant career at Clemson at deserves credit for the tools he brings to the table. He is undoubtedly a franchise Quarterback in every sense of the word.

 

  Average Performance Grade: 87.5 / 100

  Overall Grade: Gem (Generational Prospect)

By: JaDarius McCoy

Justin Fields (Quarterback #1)

6’3  230 lbs

21 y/o Junior Ohio State University

(Photo by Ralph Freso Getty Images)

Games watched: CLEM ‘20, PSU ‘20, RTG ‘20, MD ‘19, NEB ‘19, MSU ‘19

Summary:

Justin Fields was recruited to be the Quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs in 2018. He saw minimal action.

 

In the 2019 season, Justin Fields transferred and became the starting QB for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He led the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular season, with 3,757 yards from scrimmage, 51 total touchdowns, and three interceptions. Fields and the Buckeyes lost to the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Semifinals.

 

For the 2019 season, Fields was a Heisman Trophy Finalist, Davey O’Brien Award Finalist, named First Team All Big-Ten (coaches and media), and also named Second Team All-American (Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBS Sports, Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, and Football Writers Association of America.)

 

In 2020, Fields was named preseason second-team All-American by the Associated Press. Covid-19 shortened the Buckeye football season, but Fields led the Buckeyes to an undefeated regular-season record (6-0) with 2,483 all-purpose yards, 27 total touchdowns, and six interceptions.

 

The Buckeyes defeated the Clemson Tigers in the College Football Playoff Semifinal and subsequently were defeated by the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship game.

 

Fields will finish his Ohio State career at 11th in all-time passing yards, 2nd in all-time passing touchdowns, and 14th all-time Rushing touchdowns.

 Strengths:

• Makes cross-field throws
• Zip on throws flashes in the red zone
• Off-platform and throws on the run
• Intermediate and Short Accuracy
• Enough arm to hit on deep balls
• Flashed the ability to identify matchups before the snap
• Escapability in the pocket; showed awareness
• Athlete in space, legitimate dual-threat QB
• Flashed ability to go through progressions

  Weaknesses:

• Can become too indecisive with a rushing lane in front of him
• Has more negative plays when forced to go beyond his second read.
• Could stand to improve scanning the entire field
• Can improve at pre-snap pressure diagnosis

 

Conclusion:

Justin Fields had the best showing of his career against the Clemson Tigers. He also showed toughness in that game, as he sustained a rib injury on an illegal hit. He played the rest of the game and finished with 385 passing yards and six passing touchdowns.

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes run many concepts that only require the QB to read half the field at a time, leading to quick and easy decisions. He will likely need to improve at feeling comfortable going through multiple progressions, even though he did put some of that ability on film.

 

His desire to make the throw downfield led to him neglecting a running lane, but his pocket awareness was, for the most part, adequate. He’s tough to tackle behind and beyond the line of scrimmage. If a team is willing to sprinkle in some Run-Pass options for him, Fields will prove to be a valuable franchise QB before long.

 

Average Performance Grade: 81.2 / 100

Overall Grade: 5.8 (Starter within one year)

 

 

By: JaDarius McCoy

Trey Lance (Quarterback #5)

6’4  230 lbs

20 y/o R-Sophomore North Dakota State University

(Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports)

Games watched: CARK ‘20, SIU’19, WIU ‘19, MTST ‘19, MOST ‘19, DEL ‘19

Summary:

Trey Lance, who is originally from Canby, Minnesota, was not widely recruited by top schools. As a senior at Marshall High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was just a three-star recruit, most schools that did show interest in him wanted to play him at Defensive back or Wide Receiver. He committed to the FCS powerhouse program at North Dakota State University in December 2017.

 

In 2019, Lance thrust himself into the National Spotlight. As just a redshirt-freshman, Lance won the starting job at NDSU. He amassed 3,886 total yards, 42 total touchdowns, and no interceptions.

 

His production in his lone full season of play led him to win the Walter Payton Award given to the best FCS player in the country. Lance also won the Jerry Rice Award, which is given to the best FCS freshman in the country.

 

The 2020 NDSU football season was canceled due to COVID-19, but the Bison played one contest versus the Central Arkansas Bears, where Lance had 292 total yards, four total touchdowns, and an interception.

 

Lance declared himself for the 2021 NFL Draft in October 2020. He finished his collegiate career with 4,272 total yards, 48 total touchdowns, and only one interception.

Strengths:

• Size and athleticism to be a true NFL dual-threat QB
• Very strong arm, cross-field throws are easy.
• Physical runner with a natural cutting ability
• Showed ability to diagnose matchups pre-snap
• Extends plays with eyes downfield.
• Deep-ball
• Very decisive with the ball

  Weaknesses:

• Deep ball consistency
• Anticipatory throws

 

Conclusion:

Scouts and front offices are likely to view Lance as a project QB. He had only one game to his credit in 2020 as the other top 5 QBs have had a full season and bowl games to get in a rhythm. Just one full season as a starter will make teams pause when marking him on their Big Board.

 

Be that as it may, Lance is not as much of a project as the media will make it seem. As a redshirt freshman, he made pre-snap checks at NDSU. He showed good pocket presence and made good decisions with the football. He is the best rushing quarterback in this draft class, and one could make a legitimate argument that he also has the strongest arm of the draft class.

 

There are still things he can add to his skill set to make him more lethal at the next level, however. He has the velocity to drive throws into tight windows, but it would be good to see a bit more anticipation on out-breaking throws.

 

Teams that draft Lance should allow him to make the most of his skillset with plenty of designed QB runs and run-pass options mixed in with their scheme. Even if NFL front offices don’t believe Lance is ready to start right now, he has all the tools to be a headache for defensive coordinators across the league.

   

Overall Grade: 5.5 (Starter within one year)

By: JaDarius McCoy

Games watched: CCU ‘20, UCF ‘20, HOU ‘20, UH ‘19, WASH ‘19, UMASS ‘19

    Summary:

Zach Wilson originally went to High School in Draper, Utah. During the recruiting cycle, he was rated as a three-star prospect by ESPN and received offers from the Mountain West Conference programs and Independent programs. Wilson committed to Brigham Young University in December of 2017.

 

For his freshman season, Wilson played in 9 games for the Cougars. Wilson started seven games and became the youngest starter in school history. He finished the year with 1,799 total yards, 14 total touchdowns, and three interceptions.

 

In 2019, Wilson started nine games. He produced 2549 total yards, 14 total touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He was a 2019 Maxwell Award watch list nominee and 2019 CFPA National Performer of the Year watch list nominee.

 

Wilson had his best statistical year in 2020, where he put up 3946 total yards, 43 total touchdowns, and three interceptions. Following a strong 425 passing yard, three-touchdown performance in the Boca Raton Bowl, he declared for the 2021 NFL Draft.

 

Wilson finishes his collegiate career as 9th all-time in Cougars passing yards, 9th all-time in Cougars passing touchdowns, and 9th all-time in Cougars rushing touchdowns.

    Strengths:

• Lively arm that makes NFL level throws
• Deep-throw accuracy and touch for jump balls
• Mobile inside and outside the pocket; gets chunks of ground yardage
• Extends plays and keeps eyes downfield
• Good ability to make off-platform throws to any part of the field
• Flashed ability to make anticipatory throws
• Good feel for when his receiver has leverage on defensive backs

    Weaknesses:

• Eyes bigger than stomach; extends plays unnecessarily
• Sometimes misses opportunities to climb the pocket
• Misses opportunities to set feet, resulting in some easy misses

    Conclusion:

Zach Wilson has one of the strongest arms in this draft class. He routinely makes cross-field throws with plenty of velocity. In 2020 he proved that he is adept at making chunk plays for his offense.

 

Even with a less than stellar receiving core and some bad drops, he still managed to have the 3rd highest yards per pass attempt and second-highest passing rate in the nation. He has shown the ability to feel rushers and navigate to a clean throwing platform.

 

Although his arm talent will help cover some of his flaws in the NFL, he can stand to work on his decision making. Wilson will often extend plays by keeping his eyes downfield when there is an open underneath receiver or a running lane. Sometimes his desire to hit the big chunk throw will leave him inconsistent in feeling the rush.

 

In the NFL, Wilson should be ready to use his legs more when the opportunity presents itself, but for his ability to extend plays and flip the field with a flick of the wrist, he will be seen as a top QB prospect. His arm will allow him to come in from college and be a difference-maker right away, even if there’s still plenty of room for improvement.

Average performance grade: 84.2 / 100

Overall Grade: 6.0 (Day 1 starter)