Hooker/Stroud/Levis/Young - Who will be the best pro?

[VolFreakJosh]

Hendon Hooker is great and has the potential to be an NFL caliber QB but I’m going to say Bryce Young.

Dude can sling it and has great pocket awareness.

He’s a playmaker. Plain & simple.

 

[VAVol85]

Levis has all the physical tools and a head full of crap. He lets his emotions dictate his play, and on more than one occasion has let them get the better of him on National tv. He’s also proven to be interception prone at the worst times. These are not the qualities of a franchise QB.

He has Ryan Leaf 2.0 written all over him. His draft stock slides precipitously by the end of their stretch run.

I am not expecting much from Levis in the NFL. The phrase million dollar arm ten-cent head comes to mind. But, that has worked for at least a few, and Levis can definitely throw into tight windows (for better or worse).

 

[VAVol85]

I really like Hendon - gamer, cool under pressure, great arm, good decision-maker, and Dobbs-like in being able to use his legs to keep a drive alive.

Having said all that, I thing Young may go higher in the draft because of his ability to keep his eyes downfield while scrambling and then plant his feet and deliver strikes when something comes open. He really impressed me in our game. Hooker seems more likely to just take off if he doesn’t immediately see what he wants.

Regardless, a top four QB in the draft is going to be financially set for life. Congratulations to all these guys!

 

[DaddyChad]

Levis sucks. Young will be a good pro.

 

[VolInDayton]

Kentucky fans are even starting to sour on Levi's. His first round potential is a thing of the pass. If an NFL am was only going to draft of physical tools why wouldn't you take Milton over him?

Starter
1. Shroud

Journeyman
2. Hooker
3. Young ( I don't know if his pocket mobile will translate against NFL edge rushers but it's the best since Johnny Football)

Won't stick around long
4. Levis

 

[pimo1]

I can't speak to the others, but Hooker will do very well in the pros. He reminds me a lot of Randall Cunningham.
6'4"
Great deep ball
Ability to go through progressions well
Makes proper decisions based on what D shows pre-snap
Can use legs when play breaks down or in QB run designed plays
Both very smart guys

It might be more advantageous for him to go later in the draft and end up with a better organization.

I think Cunningham/Moon are good comparisons to Hooker though he is a lot more mobile than Moon was and a better passer than Cunningham. He is like a marriage of the 2. As far as the pros I think all can be very successful depending on the team they go to. I think for Young where he goes is more important than for all of them because he needs the right system. But if you build around him watch out. Levi's is similar where he is system dependent where Stroud and Hooker are more system agnostic.

 

[njvols]

Right now I’d say Young. He’s pretty freaking legit.

I'm going w/ Young too. Don't get the Levins thing...seems like a Daniel Jones scenario who has good senior year and does well at combines but gets over hyped and skyrockets up the board. I think Hooker will end up being a late first round

 

[ILOVEMYBIGVOLS]

Despite how we feel about it, Levis is the correct answer. He's got all the tools that scouts look for and the size. If Levis played in a better system, or his OL wasn't garbage, he could put up monster numbers. Listen to the way the analysts talk about him, even the way Peyton talks about him.

I know many are high on him but I’m not impressed compared to the others being mentioned. My opinion don’t mean anything to anyone,I know that, it’s just to my eye Levis don’t stand out in that group.

 

[kingkisses]

Levis has all the physical tools and a head full of crap. He lets his emotions dictate his play, and on more than one occasion has let them get the better of him on National tv. He’s also proven to be interception prone at the worst times. These are not the qualities of a franchise QB.

He has Ryan Leaf 2.0 written all over him. His draft stock slides precipitously by the end of their stretch run.

Josh Allen's unlikely turnaround is getting quarterbacks drafted. Levis is a physical prototype but is neither accurate nor decisive. The chances of a quarterback reinventing himself at the highest level of football after a lifetime of coaching seem pretty slim, but many GMs are desperate for a franchise QB.

 

[JoeMiltonsAgent]

I tend to want to agree with OP regarding Young and his size but he is comparable to Russell Wilson from a size standpoint and I already think he has much better vision.

Some of the stuff he did Saturday was straight out of the Mahomes playbook in avoiding pressure and keeping his eyes downfield.

I would say it is between Stroud and Levis as far as the physical attributes but Levis especially has a long way to go with the mental part of the game. And if Fields is any type of preview for Stroud, he has a long way to go in processing defenses.

Fields has been atrocious to the point that you have to question how well OSU is getting their QBs for the next level.

Hooker is somewhere in the middle of this group but I think his game has obviously taken a step forward this season. Most of the NFL guys are probably still looking at his as more of a longer term project though which leads to the next point. He is getting dinged for his age for some reason in a league that still sees Tom Brady playing at 45.

None of these guys are sure bets to succeed at the next level. But the NFL is quarterback driven and has a dearth of talent at the position with some of the elite guys aging out.

I would expect Young, Levis, Stroud all to go in the first and Hendon has played his way from mid round pick to very late first or second round IMO.

 

[Eastknox865]

Regardless if Levis has the skills to be a great pro or not is not my complaint in him. Every big game I've seen him play in he turns the ball over and makes a terrible mistake when the game is on the line.

 

[DD4ME]

Young is a baller. He won't last in the NFL, but someone will take him first IMO. He is literally carrying Bama right now which is weird to even say.

I think Hooker's a total package and got a chance to have a strong career. Still think the earliest he goes is the 2nd round. People call our offense gadget, but he is displaying all the qualities you want at the next level. Makes good reads, precise, big arm, decent frame, and elusive/mobile.

 

[BelieveTheHeup93]

I don’t think any will be very good in the NFL

Young is too little and relies on extending plays with his legs too much to be successful and his pocket fundamentals are terrible. He also holds onto the ball way too long

CJ also has poor pocket fundamentals and is terrified of contact and therefore won’t have his eyes on the defense because he’ll be consumed by the pass rush and won’t step into throws. He has elite arm talent, but that alone won’t cut it in the NFL

Levis has potential as an NFL QB, but I don’t think he’s a top 10 pick like “experts” are projecting. I do think he has the highest upside besides Stroud though.

Hooker is a great college QB, but this offense sets him up for success better than NFL offenses will. I think Miami would be a good fit for him because they have a lot of speed on the outside and he’s such a good deep ball thrower. Or maybe LA or Minnesota takes him in the 2nd round as a guy to sit behind Stafford or Cousins for another year or two to learn how to dissect defenses. He will need to play for a team that runs a lot of air raid/spread based concepts for him to really have success. Atlanta might even be a good option. Although I don’t think Mariota will be a good guy to teach him how to play QB in the NFL. Out of all the QBs I think he’s the most fundamentally sound in the pocket out of the 4 in question and that’s ultimately where you win big games as a QB in the NFL unless you’re Big Ben. Hooker’s age will likely be a detriment to him because most scouts will think he’s close to his peak already

With the NFL sometimes it’s more important where you get drafted to than it is how good you actually are. For instance I don’t think Patrick Mahomes becomes the player we know today if anyone outside of Andy Reid drafts him. Sometimes you get generational type QBs like Peyton, Eli, Luck, and maybe Burrow and Allen that will succeed regardless of where they’re drafted. Right now I think Quinn Ewers and Drake Maye are the only guys in college football that could fall in the category and maybe Caleb Williams. There’s so much more than just arm talent and athleticism that comes in play when having success in the NFL. Just look at how Fields, Darnold, Mayfield, and Murray have turned out and so many more

In my opinion Sam Hartman is the most NFL ready QB that’s draft elgible right now. Everyone else will be a project

 

[BelieveTheHeup93]

I really like Hendon - gamer, cool under pressure, great arm, good decision-maker, and Dobbs-like in being able to use his legs to keep a drive alive.

Having said all that, I thing Young may go higher in the draft because of his ability to keep his eyes downfield while scrambling and then plant his feet and deliver strikes when something comes open. He really impressed me in our game. Hooker seems more likely to just take off if he doesn’t immediately see what he wants.

Regardless, a top four QB in the draft is going to be financially set for life. Congratulations to all these guys!

That is the main thing he has going for him. I just don’t see him scrambling in the NFL like he does in college

 

[BowlBrother85]

I don't want to label Hooker's success as strictly being a "product of the system," but I will say that if Jarrett Guarantano had played for Heupel, his career would have been completely different. To a certain extent ... it is the system.

 

[VolArmy74]

Hooker is extremely smart, makes great decisions, is 6'4 220, can run, has a cannon for an arm, he should be an NFL dream player.

Ohio State quarterbacks are never to be counted upon. Ever. They've literally never had a good NFL QB. Peyton Manning has more that 2x as many NFL wins as all OSU quarterbacks combined.

Young is really small. The NFL is littered with guys his size who failed. There's only been 2 or 3 in the history of the league who was successful for any length of time.

 

[VolFan69420]

Levis most likely. He has the measurables scouts drool over.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Agreed…he has a lot of qualities the league will want. His only knock is his label as a “system” QB. Mahomes says an air raid QB can work in the NFL though.

We run the ball on 50+% of our plays. We arent even remotely an air raid throw it every down to inflate passing numbers team.

All qbs are impacted by the talent around them. And that talent includes the coaching staff. Hooker no doubt is aided by playing for Heupel/Golesh amd their ability to scheme guys open. However he executes the offense at a nearly flawless level. IMO he will execute whatever system he is jn the same way.

I dont watch much NFL football so i dont know what they need but i struggle to believe a guy making poor decisions with the ball (Levis) is valued more than the others.

 

['Boro-vol]

We run the ball on 50+% of our plays. We arent even remotely an air raid throw it every down to inflate passing numbers team.

All qbs are impacted by the talent around them. And that talent includes the coaching staff. Hooker no doubt is aided by playing for Heupel/Golesh amd their ability to scheme guys open. However he executes the offense at a nearly flawless level. IMO he will execute whatever system he is jn the same way.

I dont watch much NFL football so i dont know what they need but i struggle to believe a guy making poor decisions with the ball (Levis) is valued more than the others.

My statement was based only on what I have read from scouts on Hooker, and the assertion of him being the product of a system. Notice MY assertion that like Mahomes, who was an air raid QB, that Hooker could be very successful in the league. I understand our offense is not a true “air raid”, but it is not a pro-style either. That is the reason for the terminology.

What Hooker is that pro scouts like is teachable. He picked up a new system quickly and has thrived.

I made my points on Levis, and like you don’t understand his valuation. My expectation is that will take a significant hit as Kentucky starts their normal second half of the season decline.

 

[OrangeInKy]

Levis turns the ball over entirely to much. I really don't understand the love

I don’t either. Those last 3 series against Ole Miss sun him up.

 

[perico]

Young is a baller. He won't last in the NFL, but someone will take him first IMO. He is literally carrying Bama right now which is weird to even say.

I think Hooker's a total package and got a chance to have a strong career. Still think the earliest he goes is the 2nd round. People call our offense gadget, but he is displaying all the qualities you want at the next level. Makes good reads, precise, big arm, decent frame, and elusive/mobile.

Young is more Tua than anyone else with a stronger arm.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

My statement was based only on what I have read from scouts on Hooker, and the assertion of him being the product of a system. Notice MY assertion that like Mahomes, who was an air raid QB, that Hooker could be very successful in the league. I understand our offense is not a true “air raid”, but it is not a pro-style either. That is the reason for the terminology.

What Hooker is that pro scouts like is teachable. He picked up a new system quickly and has thrived.

I made my points on Levis, and like you don’t understand his valuation. My expectation is that will take a significant hit as Kentucky starts their normal second half of the season decline.

Hooker will be a great pro because he has shown that he can quickly read defenses, throw all the range of passes, and scramble when required. In addition, he can take a hit and stay in the game. I wouldn’t hesitate to take him in the first round if I needed a QB. Even if I didn’t need a QB, I would probably take him in the second round to have competition to make my starter a better player and have either available for trade bait. This could result in getting a couple of future 1st round draft choices in future years.

 

[Shirleyudontmeanthat]

Levis has all the physical tools and a head full of crap. He lets his emotions dictate his play, and on more than one occasion has let them get the better of him on National tv. He’s also proven to be interception prone at the worst times. These are not the qualities of a franchise QB.

He has Ryan Leaf 2.0 written all over him. His draft stock slides precipitously by the end of their stretch run.

Couldn’t agee w this more , very poor decision maker and injury prone because of this. Doubt he finishes the UT or uga game. Especially w that sieve of a OL.

 

[Shirleyudontmeanthat]

At best, Levis is Steve Young. At worst, he's Ryan Leaf. I can't imagine the pro coaches and scouts aren't considering both sides of his coin.

So he's not the wunderkind of this draft.

I think probably Byron Young.

Here's the thing about Hendon. He isn't going to be heralded at the NFL level. He's never going to be the trendy dude, or the flashy dude. He is quietly going to have an incredible career, A Ken Anderson kind of career.

Ken who? Exactly.

Anderson quietly earned MVP honors during his career, and just as quietly took his team to the Super Bowl one year. He quietly set records, like the 70.6% season completion percentage record that stood almost 30 years until Drew Brees finally broke it in 2009.

Most folks here probably don't even remember what team he played for, he stayed that low profile.

I'm not saying Hendon is like Ken Anderson as a quarterback. They have very different styles. But I'm saying he will--like Ken Anderson--be a quiet professional, and much better than folks who focus on flash and glitter will notice.

He's just that kind of unassuming team player, seems to me.

So yeah, he won't go first in the draft. He might not even go first round. But he will be quietly remarkable, wherever he goes.

Ken Anderson ?? Dude he play w or without a face mask. ?

 

[VOLnFLA]

Despite how we feel about it, Levis is the correct answer. He's got all the tools that scouts look for and the size. If Levis played in a better system, or his OL wasn't garbage, he could put up monster numbers. Listen to the way the analysts talk about him, even the way Peyton talks about him.

Every huge QB bust is exactly like levis he's big and has a big arm but does nothing with it. He's literally almost averaging a pick a game. I don't get people's love of this guy. He's trashcan juice. Watch his tape