2023 Draft - QB Watch

I didn't update the QB watch stats last week - just a bit too busy with work, but I did watch some QB's last week and you can bet I'll be watching QB's today, so the QB Watch will be updated after today's Week 6 college games, for sure.

Like I mentioned in the College Week 6 thread, I suggest fans tune into the Tennesee/LSU game early (the Vols are up 10-0 early after some solid Special Teams play) and the Utah/UCLA game that starts mid-afternoon. Then tonight, let's see how BYU QB Jaren Hall does under the bright lights of Notre Dame Stadium.

I have all three QB's in those games - Tennesee's Hendon Hooker, Utah's Cam Rising & BYU's Jaren Hall - in the Day 2 range, a tier behind CJ Stroud, Bryce Young, Will Levis and Anthony Richardson, and it's possible one of those three (or more than one) can move up to that top tier in Round 1. All three of those QB's have mobility and solid arms, and in the case of Hooker & Hall, are "older" prospects (they both will be 25 when the 2023 Draft rolls around).

Bryce Young probably won't play tonight vs Texas A&M and he may not need to anyway as 'Bama are heavy favorites at home.

After a week off, the QB stats have been updated through Week 6. Nearly all of the QB's on the list have played at least 5 games and now that we're knee-deep into Conference games, we're starting to see some separation here and there. There's no more stat-padding vs cupcakes as most QB's will face a few good teams in their Conference over the next few weeks.

Updated rankings through Week 6:



QB's Added:
- As you can see, the list has been expanded to 30 from 25. I just wanted to add some and couldn't think of which QB's to take off, so I just decided to add them all and up the count to 30 for now. QB's I added were Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma St), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (UCLA), Michael Penix, Jr (Washington), Bo Nix (Oregon) and Phil Jurkovec (Boston College).
- Chances are that the list will not remain at 30 because there are some big games coming up and they all can't stay on, but at least you can see the stats of all them relative to the rest of the class.
- Thompson-Robinson is the biggest riser from the adds after big home game wins vs Washington (Penix, Jr) and Utah (Cam Rising). He needs to prove he can have those type of games outside of the Rose Bowl before he rises out of the crowded Day 3 group.

QB's on deck:
- Ben Bryant, Cincinnati: he's been having some success lately and I really wanted to add him to the list but 30 is enough for now. The Bearcats have a few decent games left (@ SMU, @ UCF and vs Tulane) so Bryant will have his chances to get on there, but he needs to continue to put up good against non-Power 5 programs.

Week 6 Notes (games watched: Tennessee @ LSU, Utah @ UCLA, BYU @ Notre Dame):
- Hendon Hooker and Tennessee had a nice road win at LSU and while Hooker played well, it was more of a total team win over the Tigers than Hooker doing it all himself. The impressive thing is that the Vols are doing this without their top WR weapon in Cedric Tillman who I believe is expected bck for the big matchup vs 'Bama in Week 7. Hooker did miss some easy/intermediate throws, but he made some nice escapes and some good-looking deep balls when given the opportunity. The one thing I overhead during the broadcst was that Hooker's success is coming from a relatively "watered-down" and easy-to-run Josh Heupel offensive system, which may not bode well for Hooker operating a more complicated playbook at the next level. I think that might get fleshed out a bit during the All-Star game ciruit (Shrine Bowl or Senior Bowl) and Hooker will have his chances to prove any doubters during the next month with massive games vs Alabama, Kentucky and Georgia.
- I got my first look at Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA and he looked real comfortable running Chip Kelly's offense. He and RB Charbonnet were basically unstoppable at the Rose Bowl. He's going to need to show me a bit more on the road away from home and I'm still not sure of his ability to read a defense, but he's certainly playing as well as anyone in the country at the moment and is certainly draftable.
- On the other side, Utah's Cam Rising looked solid as usual, but he had a very bad pick early in the game that costs the Utes the lead and it did come back to bite them in the end. I wanted to see him throw the ball downfield and I saw some very good throws (opposite hash stuff, some deep shots, etc) and I do think he has the ability to make the throws in the NFL. He continues to show his ability to be a very good runner, too, which is a very underrated part of his game. I'd love to see him play in an offense that wasn't so conservative to see what he can do.
- The primetime lights in Vegas were too bright for BYU's Jaren Hall as he faltered to a solid Notre Dame defense in front of scouts. His threw an ugly INT to start the game and ate a safety later in the 1st half when he should have bailed on the pocket (held onto it way too long for the situation). His best place in the 2nd half came on a busted ND coverage. I liked some of his earlier games this season as he showed more arm strength/ability, but did not look nearly as crisp in this one.

Week 7 QB Matchups to Watch:
- Sean Clifford (Penn St) @ Michigan; if Clifford wants to be drafted, he's going to need to pull off some real big games and it doesn't get much bigger than undefeated teams meeting in the Big House.
- Bryce Young (Alabama) @ Hendon Hooker (Tennessee); the biggest game for the Vols since the P Manning was there. If Hooker wants to ever get in Round 1, having a big game vs a tough 'Bamam defense will certainly make some experts think about it.
- Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma St) @ TCU; the BIG XII gauntlet continues as undefeated teams meet with the chance to stay atop the BIG XII with Kansas St and Sanders can make himself draftable with some big games
- Drew Leary (NC State) @ Garrett Shrader (Syracuse); perhaps the biggest game for Syracuse in quite a while as Leary continues to search for that big win against a solid opponent (he didn't get it @ Clemson)
- Jayden Daniels (LSU) @ Anthony Richardson (Florida); Richardson has quietly put together a few solid games and Daniels just threw his first INT. Both teams are 4-2 in this critical midseason SEC matchup.
- Will Rogers (Miss St) @ Will Levis (Kentucky); Levis missed the Wildcats Week 6 loss to South Carolina and hopes to rebound against the high-flying Miss St offense.
- USC @ Cam Rising (Utah); after last week's loss @ UCLA, Cam Rising needs a signature win on his resume to vault himself into Day 2 conversations. There's no bigger game on their calendar (outside of perhaps Oregon) than Lincoln Riley's rejuvenated USC led by 2024 QB prospect Caleb Williams.

Best QB that will be drafted in 2023..

Well we can see another under radar QB this weekend against the Vikes. I've watched him a long time he can be really good and really average hope he has an average game against the Vikes

Where was Leary projected to go before his injury and surgery?

I figure we have no shot at the first few quarterbacks, right? Thanks to that disappointing trade with Detroit. Who are the realistic guys at the backend of the first? Hooker? Please be Hooker!