College QBs in Texas Could be Steals of the Draft

Details

Created on Friday, 30 March 2012 22:20

Last Updated on Thursday, 16 May 2013 07:51

Written by Travis Pulver

By now the whole world knows who Robert Griffin III is. The Baylor Bears quarterback is expected to go No 2 in the coming draft (but could still go No 1). While he may be the best known quarterback coming from a Texas college this year he is not the only one expected to get drafted.

Texas A&M’s Ryan Tannehill has been the forgotten quarterback left out of all the hype surrounding RGIII and Andrew Luck. After the way he performed at Texas A&M’s recent pro day the other two might have to get accustomed to sharing the spot light.

"He processes at a fast pace…and had the luxury playing for a former NFL guy in college [Mike Sherman]. There is no question in my mind that he's a franchise quarterback," said Chris Weinke, former Heisman trophy winner that also tutored Cam Newton prior to last year’s draft, whom Tannehill has been working out with.

Tannehill led the resurgence for the Aggies in 2010 after taking over for Jerrod Johnson midway through the season after having been a wide receiver since entering college. In his only full-season as a starter he did well completing 61.6 percent of his passes for 3,744 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.

It would not be surprising to see Tannehill go in the top ten to either the Miami Dolphins (No 8) or the Cleveland Browns (No 4). He has a visit scheduled with the Browns prior to the draft.

Getting picked by the Browns would be a little sweeter for the Aggie and not because it would come with a bigger paycheck than the No 8 pick. In Cleveland he’d get the chance to take the job of a former Texas Longhorn, Colt McCoy (love that rivalry).

Almost completely forgotten in all the hoopla is arguably the most decorated quarterback not to win the Heisman trophy, and quite possibly a diamond in the rough for the right team-- Houston’s Case Keenum.

After being granted a sixth season last year he continued to light up scoreboards and stat charts all season. By time he was done he had taken over the career passing yards, total offense, touchdowns and completions records. With 5,631 yards through the air in 2011 he became the only college quarterback to have thrown for 5,000 or more yards in three seasons.

The knock on Keenum has been the strength of schedule that the Cougars typically played leaving it to question whether he could do as well against better competition although he did light up a good Penn State team for 532 yards in his final college game, the 2012 TicketCity Bowl.

At Houston’s Pro Day recently he shined with representatives from 22 teams in attendance. Considering his lackluster performance at the Combine courtesy of a hamstring injury he suffered while running the 40-yard dash it could very well put him on the draft board for a number of teams looking for the quarterback of the future.

"It was very important for me to show these guys that (at the combine), that was not me," Keenum said. "I have very high standards for myself and I believe in my abilities tremendously and I think I wasn't at my best. I wanted to go out there and compete. That's what I do."