(STATS) – Quarterback is not a heavily drafted position for FCS schools, but there are a handful of prospects whom NFL teams are taking a close look at this month.
North Dakota State’s Easton Stick, South Dakota State’s Taryn Christion and Central Connecticut State’s Jake Dolegala headline the class. Stick is generally considered the most likely to be drafted in the April 25-27 extravaganza.
In the last 10 drafts, only seven FCS quarterbacks have been taken, highlighted by the New England Patriots picking Eastern Illinois’ Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round in 2014 and the Philadelphia Eagles taking North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz with the second overall pick in 2016
The 6-foot-1, 224-pound Stick has a winning pedigree that can’t be denied – a 49-3 record as a starter at North Dakota State, including wins in the last two FCS championship games. He worked out of a pro-style offense as a tough, mobile signal caller with a quick release.
The knock on him is the lack of size and arm strength, but Stick feels he answered questions about the latter at NDSU’s pro day last month.
“The big thing in the workout that we wanted to show was I can move around and be athletic and then, two, that I can make all the throws,” he said. “There’s not a throw out there that I’m not able to make. I thought we did that through some deep comebacks and deeps outs, push it down the field on some different things. A ton of different movement and foot work.”
Christion battled North Dakota State regularly in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Oozing athleticism, the 6-1, 228-pounder ended his career as the conference’s all-time leader in total offensive yards (13,050), passing yards (11,535) and touchdown passes (104).
Dolegala’s physical attributes at 6-6, 234 pounds draws attention. He has good arm strength and while being a pocket passer, he showed improved mobility during his CCSU career. He is the school’s all-time passing leader.
A number of other FCS quarterbacks will go undrafted, but should sign as free agents, including Rhode Island’s JaJuan Lawson (6-0, 213); Samford’s Devlin Hodges (6-0, 207), the 2018 STATS FCS Walter Payton Award recipient; Princeton’s John Lovett (6-3, 225); and Murray State’s Drew Anderson (6-4, 222).
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