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NFL Draft Watch: Why BYU's Zach Wilson belongs in the 1st-round discussion
Dane Bugler Oct 29, 2020
The story of the NFL Draft process thus far has been the ascension of BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.
The Cougars' junior put himself on the NFL radar as a true freshman and then played up-and-down as a sophomore as he battled a few injuries. Through six games in 2020, Wilson has been remarkable, posting 78.3 percent completions, 1,928 passing yards and a 16-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He also has six touchdowns with his legs.
While Wilson and BYU's 6-0 start has been impressive, I can already hear the critics: "Who cares? They haven't played anyone!"
And that is fair. The main caveat with Wilson's evaluation to this point has been the competition. BYU's original 2020 schedule included multiple Power 5 opponents, including Utah, Michigan State, Arizona State, Minnesota, Missouri and Stanford. But due to COVID-19, BYU was forced to patch together a makeshift schedule that has included Navy, Troy, Louisiana Tech, UTSA, Houston and Texas State up to this point.
The lack of quality opponents makes his evaluation tougher, but NFL prospects are rarely gifted to us in transparent wrapping paper. It is still possible to judge a quarterback based on his arm talent, instincts and the placement of his throws, regardless of opponent. And that is what we have to do with Wilson.
Ball placement
The No. 1 most desirable trait at the quarterback position is ball placement, and that is where Wilson shines. Inside or outside of structure, he is naturally accurate and consistently puts the ball where only his target can make a play.
On this out pattern vs. Troy, Wilson's velocity and placement from the opposite hash are almost perfect. The corner was all over the receiver's route, but the flawless execution of placement allowed his target to win the catch point and move the chains. Wilson makes this very difficult throw appear easy.
Downfield touch
Delivering downfield throws with touch is an art, and Wilson is very comfortable with this part of his game. Any conversation about the best deep passers in college football must include the BYU junior.
In another play from the Troy tape, Wilson tosses this beautiful 40-yard pass down the sideline. He knows he has single coverage on the outside, and the moment he sees the receiver stack the corner vertically, he lofts the pass over his target's shoulder and away from the defender. Wilson couldn't have delivered it any better.
Executing play-action
From option plays to five-wide out of shotgun, the BYU offense does a little bit of everything, asking Wilson to decipher defenses both horizontally and vertically. His high completion percentage is helped by throws that are schemed open for him, but he also makes progression-based reads, including play-action passes.
Against Navy, Wilson looks comfortable turning his back to the defense and re-setting his eyes while staying in rhythm as he changes his launch point. The backfield action is enough to freeze the middle safety, opening up the deep post, which Wilson hits in stride for the big play.
Off-platform throws
Aside from his natural accuracy, the most impressive takeaway from Wilson's film is the improvisational skills to create second-chance throws for himself. While he is comfortable with the traditional elements of three-, five- and seven-step drops, he is very instinctive with the ball in his hands to maneuver around the noise and deliver off-platform.
On this play against UTSA, Wilson feels the rush from the gun and escapes towards the opening with his eyes reading downfield. He locates his receiver and makes a stunning pass, leading his receiver to a void in the defense. Wilson's ability to be quick-minded while on the move and deliver a pinpoint throw is comparable to what you see on Sundays.
I understand why some are hesitant to fully buy in due to the average competition, but the quality of Wilson's movements and throws from these clips should, at the very least, have you intrigued. Aside from his obvious on-field talent, he is also a team captain and well-respected within the program for his competitive nature and study habits.
There is still more to learn about Wilson, especially with Boise State (Nov. 6) and San Diego State (Dec. 12), the two toughest defenses BYU will face, still on the schedule. But based on his performance so far this season, Wilson is receiving first-round love from scouts around the league. He has put himself in the conversation with Ohio State's Justin Fields and North Dakota State's Trey Lance to be the next quarterback drafted after Clemson's Trevor Lawrence.
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