LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 05: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans throws the ball to score a touchdown in the second quarter against the Oregon Ducks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 678618973 ORIG FILE ID: 621317582 Sam Darnold appears to have all the makings of a franchise quarterback.
Sam Darnold has all the tools you look for in a quarterback prospect. He first is a great athlete who can make spectacular plays. His throws not only have zip on them, but they also are accurate and fit into tight windows. He can add a size and mobility component to his game that allows him to scramble for yards, extend plays and is just overall hard to bring down. He has such a naturally strong arm that he can make a lot of throws. You also have to like that he can make quick decisions and get the ball quickly to a near receiver. His quick reads in college will serve him well in the NFL where the game is faster. He showed that he could make the tough passes in the red zone which is an asset for an offense that wants to convert in the red zone. He is also confident in the face of pass rush pressure.
As I gush over him as a prospect, there are some things he can improve. His motion is very unorthodox as he does not square himself and throw across his body. He seems to leave his front open and rely on his arm for throwing power. I did notice him try to force passes into tight coverage that was somewhat unrealistic for him to complete. He could work more on the deep ball and complete “go” routes more often. I also think USC’s offense was geared to a lot of short passes which makes it a quarterback-friendly offense. Some teams may question him moving to a tougher scheme.
Overall, I seem him as an elite quarterback prospect. If he can fix his throwing motion and be more mature with his decisions, I don’t see why he can’t be a first round pick. This is an elite quarterback class, and there will be a lot of competition; so, I would keep an eye on how he does this year at USC and compare him to the other major quarterback prospects that may enter the NFL draft.
Games Watched:
- Notre Dame (2016)
- Washington (2016)
- California (2016)
- Penn State (2016)
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