Underclassmen Watch: Quarterbacks

DECLARED

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, JR – After deciding to return for a junior season following his Heisman campaign a year ago, Bradford suffered multiple shoulder injuries, which eventually sidelined him for the season. The year has sure to have created more concern for him as a prospect as he already faces questions of arm strength and playing with a remarkably talented supporting cast around him. Depending on who enters, Bradford should still be among the top passers selected so long as his injury checks out well and he put some nice workouts for scouts later this offseason. While he could have gambled in going back to school to proving his ability again, this was probably the right decision as to not risk another season-ending injury again next year, which would have crumpled his stock altogether. PROJ ROUND: 1st-2nd

Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame, JR – Clausen has decided not to ride out the coaching change and follow through on his final season at Notre Dame. With a trio of nice weapons supporting him, Clausen put up gaudy numbers (68%, 28 TD, 4 INT) and decided to leave early. For a class that has no sure-fire elite quarterback, Clausen could jump a number of other successful college quarterbacks to be the first off the board. While watching him play, he doesn’t have appear to have an elite skill set or the resume to qualify as a can’t miss prospect. He should also face some concerns that Bradford does in playing with a talented supporting cast, which has bailed him out on terrific catches on a number of occasions. PROJ ROUND: 1st

Jevan Snead, Mississippi, JR – The big-armed Snead entered the 2009 season with a lot of buzz. Coming off a great season in which he showed a lot of maturity, Snead was considered by many to be the top quarterback in the prospect, potentially in the mold of Matthew Stafford. However, Snead followed it up with a disastrous year and is now an afterthought in the draft world. Snead went against the grain of common thought that he should return to school to rebuild his stock again. Underclassmen quarterbacks have a low success rate to begin with, especially those with without even one year at or above a 60% completion rate. Snead certainly could use some refinement. His bowl game did nothing to help his case. He has some potential, but will need some strong workouts to move back up. PROJ ROUND: 3rd-5th

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