Tag: Sam Howell

Breaking down the top five returning quarterbacks in college football entering 2021

Ranking the top 5 returning quarterbacks in college football entering the 2021 season.

Across the college football landscape, with teams becoming more pass-oriented, the signal caller is vital to the success of an offense. Expectations rise when a top-tier quarterback returns to command the huddle.

Gone are the days of Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, Kyle Trask and Mac Jones at the college level. Their departure ushers in a fresh look at other ascending stars at the QB position entering 2021.

Sooners Wire breaks down the top five returning quarterbacks for this upcoming season. The compilation is based on established players. Spencer Rattler and Sam Howell are the obvious Heisman favorites and contenders to be the best in the nation but several other premier names will vie for the spotlight on Saturdays. At the snap of the football, here are the top quarterbacks to watch.

2022 mock draft watch: Lions score premium prospects in Draft Wire’s latest 2-round projections

Always a good idea to get a feel for the upcoming draft prospects

Now that we’re getting to see the Detroit Lions draft class of 2021 get into the mix at minicamp, it’s time to look ahead to who might headline the team’s next draft class. The latest 2022 mock draft from Draft Wire and editor Luke Easterling is now posted, and it’s one that loads up the Lions with premium prospects at positions of dire need.

At No. 2 overall, the Lions land promising young North Carolina QB Sam Howell. The 21-year-old junior has been the Tar Heels starter since he stepped on campus and has a lot of very appealing traits. With Oregon EDGE Kayvon Thibodeaux projected as the No. 1 overall pick to the Houston Texans, Howell is the first QB in the draft.

With the Rams first-round pick, slotted at No. 30 overall based on the Super Bowl odds, Detroit tabs Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III.

A few picks later, with the No. 34 overall pick near the top of the second round, the projection goes to Miami safety Bubba Bolden.

Mock drafts at this time of year are much more about learning the names and getting an idea of the perception of long-term needs than they are about predicting with any sort of accuracy. It’s worthwhile for Lions fans to get familiar with Howell, Metchie and Bolden from this mock because they’re going to be popular projections for Detroit in the coming months.

CBS Sports projects Texans select North Carolina QB Sam Howell in 2022 NFL draft

CBS Sports projects the Houston Texans will select North Carolina QB Sam Howell No. 1 overall in the 2022 NFL draft, according to a latest mock.

Davis Mills is not the answer at quarterback, and the Houston Texans will have to go in a new direction with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

So says Josh Edwards of CBS Sports. In their latest mock draft, the Texans go with North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell to summarily end the Mills era and once again try to reboot the quarterback position following the debacle with Deshaun Watson.

It seems like the Deshaun Watson era is coming to an end in Houston one way or another. If you believe that Houston is not going to take a quarterback No. 1 overall because they took a quarterback in the third round this year (Davis Mills), then this is probably not the pick for you.

If the Texans went with quarterback with their first-round pick, then it would certainly indicate the team didn’t have any solutions under center. It would also mean Mills had no redeeming qualities to allow the organization to give him another shot to be the true replacement for Watson.

It would also mean the Texans had a horrendous season with hardly any wins — a tough start for first-year coach David Culley.

Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma is the second quarterback taken off the board in the mock, but not until No. 13 overall with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The ridiculously early 2022 NFL mock draft

I know. I know. For many of you, the last thing you want to read right now, in May of 2021, is a mock draft for the 2022 cycle. But at the same time, the “early mock drafts” are a great way to start building out watch lists for your own summer …

I know.

I know.

For many of you, the last thing you want to read right now, in May of 2021, is a mock draft for the 2022 cycle. But at the same time, the “early mock drafts” are a great way to start building out watch lists for your own summer scouting. Let’s face it: Log onto Twitter right now and you will already see debates over who QB1 might be, who might be the next “QB riser,” and what players could emerge as first-rounders next fall.

Of course, the accuracy in these early mock drafts is almost comical. For example, I waited until August last season to put out my first “early mock draft,” and that version was anything but accurate. I was able to place 13 players in the first round correctly, which means there were 19 names listed in the first round that fell out of that slot, including some — Dylan Moses, Marvin Wilson — that were not even drafted.

So, there is a lot of football to be played. A lot of things can change between now and next April. Some of these players might live up to the expectations, and some might not. Some players might even return to school. There is a lot of projection and development at work here, and development is not linear. Some of these players might not take the step forward that is anticipated.

And that is okay too.

For now, here is one chucklehead’s attempt at an early mock draft. Draft order was determined by the latest Super Bowl odds at BetMGM. If you disagree with a team’s draft slot, take it up with Vegas…

Philadelphia Eagles focus on offense in early 2022 NFL mock drafts

Philadelphia Eagles focus on offense in early 2022 NFL mock drafts

The 2021 NFL draft is over and as teams start to prepare for the 2021 regular season, the path towards next April’s draft in Las Vegas has already begun.

The Eagles retooled in the trenches this year and with Howie Roseman focusing on offense, draft experts believe Philadelphia will look towards offense next spring.

4 college prospects Texans need to consider as 2022 NFL draft first-round pick

The Houston Texans need to consider these four college prospects as they gear up for the 2022 NFL draft.

The 2021 NFL draft may have concluded, but given the poor outlook for the Houston Texans’ regular season, it is still draft season.

Director of college scouting James Liipfert and his team turn their attention to the 2022 NFL draft. This is the first draft in the Nick Caserio era where the Texans will have a first and second-round pick to work with as the general manager seeks to complete the rebuild.

The draft will be the most optimistic for Houston sports fans as they can finally turn the page on the Deshaun Watson era — that is, if the Texans haven’t saddled up Davis Mills as their signal caller of the future.

Taking an early look at the top 15 QB prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class

Taking an early look at the top 15 QB prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft class

The Eagles will now embark on a long-term rebuild with a new head coach in Nick Sirianni and a fresh start at quarterback with Jalen Hurts.

The Eagles used a 2020 second-round pick on Hurts and since the four games in 2020 weren’t a true gauge of his talents at quarterback, he’ll get the entire 2021 season to prove he’s the guy.

With the Eagles passing on a quarterback, Philadelphia has started the process of building around Hurts and he’ll every opportunity to become the signal-caller of the future.

If Hurts isn’t the answer during 2021, the 2022 NFL Draft class offers some interesting prospects, but none with the resume of Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields, or Trey Lance.

Below we give an early look at 15 of the top quarterbacks who could be options for the Eagles and their two possible three first-round picks depending on the Colts 2021 season.

The obscenely early 2022 NFL draft watch list: Offense

Sure the 2021 NFL draft just ended, but it is never too soon to think of the next one. Here are some players to watch on offense next year.

Generally speaking football fans fall into one of two camps.

The first group gets done watching the NFL draft and moves on to other sports, such as basketball and baseball. They will start tuning back into their favorite football teams come training camp.

The second group gets done watching the NFL draft and immediately…thinks about the next one.

If you find yourself in that second camp, then this is your starting spot. The 2021 NFL draft just ended but here is a watch list for the next draft, just a year away. Here is the obscenely early 2022 NFL draft watch list on offense.

Texas A&M Wins Orange Bowl Over North Carolina 41-27: Reaction, Analysis, 5 Thoughts

Texas A&M wins the Capital One Orange Bowl over North Carolina 41-27. Five thoughts and analysis of the game, and what it all means.

Texas A&M wins the Capital One Orange Bowl over North Carolina 41-27. Five thoughts and analysis of the game, and what it all means.

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Texas A&M wins the Capital One Orange Bowl

Final Score: Texas A&M 41, North Carolina 27
CFN Prediction: Texas A&M 34, North Carolina 20
Line: Texas A&M -10, o/u: 65.5

5. It’ll go down in history as a misleading Orange Bowl – and ACC bowl season

It was a much, much closer game than the 41-27 final score, but stats are stats.

Including the College Football Playoff games, the Orange Bowl continues to be a bit of a dog – at least in the final score.

This game makes it ten of the last 13 decided by double-digits, and going way back, it’s been 18 of the last 25.

It’ll also go down as a misleading bowl season for the ACC.

 

Yeah, it was 0-6 – you are what your record is – but two of the losses came in the College Football Playoff, Wake Forest was an underdog to Wisconsin, NC State was a slight dog to Kentucky, Miami was an underdog to Oklahoma State – and lost QB D’Eriq King to a knee injury just as the team got rolling – and there was this loss.

North Carolina played a whole lot better than 41-27.

The ACC was the dog in five of the six games, but after a wildly fun year getting two teams into the playoff, it was a rough finish.

NEXT: North Carolina gave it a phenomenal run

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5

Notre Dame at North Carolina: Third-Quarter Analysis

Notre Dame still has North Carolina breathing down its neck. However, it’s been able to put a little distance between the teams.

Notre Dame still has North Carolina breathing down its neck. However, it’s been able to put a little distance between the teams. It might have taken a little time, but that it happened at all is an accomplishment. The question is whether the Irish’s 24-17 after three quarters will mean anything.

The Irish’s defense kept the high-powered Tar Heels offense in check on the first drive of the second half, but Ben Kiernan punted the ball 62 yards all the way down to the Notre Dame 3-yard line. Ian Book used his passing abilities and also got a little luck with North Carolina defensive penalties, including an offsides call on fourth-and-1 to lead his offense on a time-consuming possession. Eventually, the Irish got into the red zone and then took the lead on a 13-yard touchdown run from Ben Skowronek. Yes, that’s a 97-yard scoring drive we’re talking about.

As crazy as it sounds, Notre Dame shut down North Carolina’s offense again. On the first play of the Tar Heels’ second drive, Justin Ademilola sacked Sam Howell. Though Javonte Williams got some yards back on a 7-yard run, Howell’s subsequent pass to him was incomplete. Can the defense keep this going for 15 more minutes?

The defense will need to keep making plays if the offense can’t support it. Book found Javon McKinley for a 53-yard reception to get into the red zone.  The drive stalled, and Doerer shanked a field-goal attempt from 32 yards, the same distance he hit from to end the first half. Luckily, the defense responded by not allowing the Tar Heels past their own 42.