A bit convenient, I'd say, to go back six years, but interesting nonetheless. I also think that despite his size, Persa would have been drafted if he had stayed healthy. 2010 Persa was a QB with NFL abilities, IMO.
Wonder if his achilles never fully got back to 100%; similar type of QB to Russell Wilson - can run out of trouble, but most of the time uses his legs to set up the pass.
It is beyond interesting - it is shocking. Honestly I pay no attention to the NFL and only a passing interest to the draft/UFA in case NU people get selected; however, the low number of B1G QB's selected is just amazing. I know we are generally not known as a "passing conference" but still, this is the conference that produced, among others, Drew Brees and Tom Brady.
Colter was undrafted, but Denard Robinson, as an "offensive weapon," was a 5th-rounder.
I think it is more a testament to the lack of QBs in the Big 10 the last six years. Regarding OSU, Pryor is the only starting QB the last six years who has been eligible for the draft.
The B1G has been weak at the quarterback position for a while but that seems to be changing. I saw a mock draft and Hackenberg, Cook and Jones were all projected to be first round picks. A lot can change by next Spring but that's a good sign for the conference. Goff from Cal is also projected to be a top 10 pick.
The problem w/ regard to the QB position in the B1G has been the over-infatuation w/
dual-threat QBs (despite the misconception of a the B1G being a traditional, old school style conference), when for the most part, these dual-threat QBs weren't a real threat w/ regard to the passing game.
B1G QBs currently on NFL rosters
Brady - Pats
Brees - Saints
Wilson* - Seahawks (initially played for NCState)
Orton - Bills
Stanton - Cards
Hoyer - Texans
Mallet* - Texans (initially played for UM)
Savage* - Texans (initially played for RU)
Henne - Jags
Hill (UMD) - Vikings
Kafka - Vikings
Stanzi - Giants
Siemian - Broncos
McGloin - Raiders
Cousins - that team in DC
Other B1G QBs who recently played the position in NFL
Griese
Painter
KCollins
TCollins
Pryor
So what is the common characteristic of these B1G QBs?
Pretty much all pro-style QBs (some more athletic than others) w/ the exception of Wilson and maybe Brees - of of whom use their legs primarily to set up the pass.
Run-oriented QBs like -
Denard Robinson
Troy Smith
Pryor
Devin Gardner
Colter
Randle El
who were lacking in skills as a pocket passer - either quickly washed out of the NFL as a QB or played another position (mostly WR).
dOSU, PSU and UM - all went thru a stage where they were overly-infatuated w/
dual-threat QBs and add to that NEB which has long favored running QBs - it's no wonder that the B1G has struggled in getting QBs drafted and drafted high.
It's also no wonder that a program which has stuck to a pro-style O is on the verge of sending its 4th straight starting QB to the NFL (w/ 3 of them, after next yr, will have been drafted).
PSU had 3 4* dual-threat QBs on its roster, but they all ended up transferring out when a walk-on by the name of McGloin eventually won the starting job.
And that former walk-on has not only been able stick it out as an NFL QB, he beat out Pryor (who was the no.1 rated recruit out of Pennsylvania the yr before).
Along the same lines - Miller is by a good margin the best athlete out of the 3 dOSU QBs competing for the starting job, but Jones (followed by Barrett) will likely be the one most sought after by NFL teams.
Jones, Hackenberg and Cook - all big pocket passers and all w/ a chance to be drafted in the 1st rnd next yr.
