Tag: Zach Wilson

Justin Fields makes it clear: Sam Darnold should not be part of Jets’ future

Justin Fields put an end to any debate over Sam Darnold’s future as the Jets’ quarterback with his performance against Clemson on Friday.

Justin Fields put an end to any debate over whether the Jets should continue with Sam Darnold under center.

Injured midsection and all, Fields had the game of his life Friday night, throwing for 385 yards and six touchdowns in Ohio State’s 49-28 College Football Playoff semifinal win over Clemson. His performance was nothing short of spectacular, with throw after throw being placed perfectly to his wide receivers and tight ends after absorbing a jarring shot to the ribs that left him in pain for nearly the entire game.

“I took a big shot…but what really kept me going was my brothers and my love for them,” Fields said, per Eleven Warriors’ Dan Hope. “I’d do anything for these guys. I just love them.”

Fields’ play did much more than lead Ohio State to a date with Alabama in the National Championship Game. After weeks of analysts wondering aloud if he has what it takes both physically and mentally to be a productive quarterback at the next level, Fields answered all of those questions in a resounding fashion.

He likely also made Joe Douglas’ offseason preparation a whole lot easier.

With Trevor Lawrence all but a lock to go off the board at No. 1 to the Jaguars, Douglas has a decision to make. Should he roll the dice with Darnold for another year and continue to build around him? Or should he move on from Darnold after three seasons of inconsistent play and take a shot on his own rookie quarterback?

Prior to the Sugar Bowl, the consensus was that if the Jets were going to go in a new direction under center, Zach Wilson would be the pick. Now, Douglas has two quality options to choose from with Fields asserting that he can be the guy for an NFL team.

To be clear, one game is not going to completely determine Douglas’ line of thinking on who he should take at No. 2. There is still plenty of Fields and Wilson game film that needs to be evaluated. Both players come with major upside, but flaws that need to be fixed, as is the case with most quarterbacks entering the NFL. Wilson could very well still have the upper hand over Fields after his dominant 2020 season at BYU.

But Douglas now has enough intel to decide what he will do with the pick. Any thought of sticking with Darnold in 2021 should be tossed out the window after Fields’ performance on Friday. Why take a chance on Darnold turning it around when Douglas could reset the clock with a new quarterback on a fresh rookie deal — especially when he has two quality options to choose from?

There is no doubt that Lawrence is the crown jewel of this year’s draft, but New York is now in a position to land an excellent consolation prize. Whether the pick is Fields or Wilson, the Jets are going to be just fine at No. 2.

BYU’s Zach Wilson enters the 2021 NFL Draft

Add BYU’s Zach Wilson to the stacked QB class for the 2021 NFL Draft

Brigham Young quarterback Zach Wilson added his name Friday to what will be a loaded quarterback crop for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Wilson, who led the Cougars to an 11-1 record in 2020, completed 73.5% of his passes while throwing for 3,692 yards with 33 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.

In three seasons, he threw for 7,652 yards with 56 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

He guided BYU to an 11-1 record this season, including a 49-23 win against UCF in the Boca Raton Bowl.

Florida’s Kyle Trask declared this week. Alabama’s Mack Jones and Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence are expected to throw their names in the 2021 NFL Draft pool. North Dakota State’s Trey Lance is also certain to be a first-rounder.

2 top QB prospects declare for NFL draft

Quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Kyle Trask could both be 49ers NFL draft targets.

The 49ers could be in the market for a quarterback in this year’s draft and two of the presumed top quarterback prospects have officially declared.

Florida’s Kyle Trask declared on Dec. 31, and BYU’s Zach Wilson declared the following day. Both players were expected to enter this year’s draft after strong seasons. Trask is a senior while Wilson will leave school after his junior year.

Wilson will likely be a higher-rated prospect by a lot of teams. Some analysts have him as the second-best QB behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence. Wilson this season completed 73.4 percent of his throws for 3,699 yards and 33 touchdowns. He tossed just three interceptions all season and averaged 11.0 yards per attempt.

Trask ended his college career with a thud. After a very good senior campaign where he posted a 68.9 percent completion rate, 4,283 yards, 43 touchdown passes and eight interceptions, he struggled in Florida’s 55-20 Cotton Bowl loss to Oklahoma. He went 16-for-28 for 153 yards and three interceptions. His larger body of work should buoy his draft stock some, but his poor performance on the national stage won’t help.

The 49ers’ plan under center is their biggest offseason story line. Whether they do it early or wait until Day 2 or 3, it seems likely San Francisco will draft a quarterback this year with Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard both set for free agency.

BYU QB Zach Wilson declares for 2021 NFL draft

BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is leaving school early to enter the 2021 NFL draft

One of the top quarterback prospects in college football is making the early jump to the next level.

BYU’s Zach Wilson announced via social media Friday that he will be leaving school early to enter the 2021 NFL draft.

One of the fastest-rising prospects in this year’s class, Wilson’s impressive 2020 campaign turned him into a potential top-five pick, and arguably the second-best quarterback in this year’s group behind Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence.

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Falcons select QB Zach Wilson, Miami EDGE in Draft Wire’s new mock

This 2021 NFL Draft is especially top-heavy at the quarterback position, with three players, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson, projected to go in the top five.

This 2021 NFL Draft is especially top-heavy at the quarterback position, with three players, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Ohio State’s Justin Fields and BYU’s Zach Wilson, projected to go in the top five.

Most teams picking that high in the draft would be thrilled about the prospect of landing a potential franchise QB. However, the Atlanta Falcons have Matt Ryan under contract, and a rookie signal-caller surely won’t solve the team’s problems in 2021.

Having Ryan doesn’t mean the Falcons won’t still grab one of the three blue-chip quarterback prospects they’re likely to have a shot at with their first-round selection, though. In Draft Wire’s latest mock draft, Luke Easterling has Atlanta picking Zach Wilson with the No. 4 overall pick.

Prior to the year, Wilson wasn’t considered to be in the same class as Lawrence or Fields. In 2019, he threw for just 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions. This season, Wilson threw for 33 touchdowns, 3,692 yards and just three picks, while completing 73.5 percent of his passes.

Check out this highlight video of Wilson playing against Boise State earlier this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uab8plGdqMI

Easterling’s draft extends to the second round, where the Falcons again find a pass rusher that could step in right away. Miami’s Jaelan Phillips is the pick for Atlanta at No. 35 overall.

In 2020, Phillips racked up 45 tackles (21 solo), eight sacks, three passes defended and one interception. Check out some footage of Phillips going up against Virginia Tech below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WilIPXkEvWM

There’s still one game remaining, though, which could alter the 2021 draft order. The Falcons won’t be falling out of the top ten, but even if the pick drops down one or two spots, it could affect whether or not the team takes a quarterback in the first round.

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What happened the other times the Jets had the No. 2 pick?

The Jets have only drafted No. 2 overall twice in the common era. Neither lived up to their expectations.

The Jets officially own the No. 2 pick in the 2021 draft, their highest pick since 1996 when they drafted Keyshawn Johnson No. 1 overall. Who the Jets select will be up for discussion for the next four months, so for now, let’s look back on Gang Green’s history with this pick.

New York has picked second overall just twice in the common draft era – 1980 and 1990 – and the picks didn’t go well. The Jets passed on better players with each pick over perceived medical issues and subsequently selected busts.

Let’s take a look back at what happened as Joe Douglas and the scouting team prepare to avoid the mistakes of past regimes. 

Is Zach Wilson a legit option for the Jets with the No. 2 pick?

The Jets will have a big question to answer in the 2021 draft if they pick a quarterback, and BYU’s Zach Wilson could be their best option.

The Jets will have a big decision on their hands in April if they own the No. 2 pick. Do they draft a quarterback? Do they trade the pick? Do they draft someone else?

If they go with a quarterback, which one? 

Those questions won’t be answered until draft day, but Joe Douglas will spend a lot of time between now and then evaluating all his options. One of the most intriguing options with the No. 2 pick is BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.

A fringe draft prospect a year ago, Wilson catapulted himself to the top of the board with an electric style of play that fits the current quarterback model. Fresh off his five-touchdown performance in a rout of UCF, Wilson is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded college quarterback this season. He also ranks top-five in competition percentage, passing yards, yards per attempt and passing touchdowns.

For awhile, Ohio State’s Justin Fields or North Dakota State’s Trey Lance were the best quarterbacks in the draft behind Trevor Lawrence. But between Fields’ inconsistent play and Lance’s limited tape – he only played one game this season because of the coronavirus pandemic – neither has emerged as the consensus No. 2 arm. Wilson, meanwhile, has proven himself as a precision passer and dual-threat playmaker. Now, it’s possible he leapfrogs Fields and Lance in the draft.

Wilson checks off a lot of boxes for what teams look for in a modern NFL quarterback. 

His 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame is a solid foundation for a player at his position and he backs it up with great plays. Wilson is among the best statistical signal-callers in the whole country. He threw for 3,699 yards and 33 touchdowns this season and rushed for 263 yards with 10 scores. Wilson’s 73.1 completion percentage is also astonishing and gives credence to the idea that he doesn’t make many mistakes. He threw just three interceptions this season and only had four turnover-worthy passes on 353 dropbacks – best in the country.

Wilson has great pocket awareness, too. His average time to throw is just 2.74 seconds when blitzed, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s only allowed 10 pressures – including five sacks – while being blitzed on 22.2 percent of his dropbacks. When he’s flushed outside the pocket, Wilson excels as well. He has the second-best PFF passing grade (87.5) when throwing outside the pocket.

The knocks against Wilson are not necessarily his fault. He hasn’t played the best competition during his college career and he floundered against an 11-0 Coastal Carolina team. Wilson dominated every game he was supposed to, though, including Monday night’s Boca Raton Bowl. He lit up a weak UCF defense three times through the air and twice on the ground.

Looking back even further, Wilson wasn’t exactly dynamite prior to this season. Unlike Lawrence and Fields, who’ve looked elite the past two seasons, Wilson only recently broke out. He averaged just 1,980 passing yards, 11.5 touchdowns and six interceptions during the past two seasons.

His fit in a Jets offense is reliant on who Douglas chooses to coach the team. There are going to be flaws in Wilson’s game as he acclimates to the NFL, and they’ll need to be massaged out. A good offensive-minded coach would be able to cut out those mistakes quickly, depending on who is hired.

There is a long evaluation process ahead for Douglas and the Jets that will push the team closer to an answer for the draft. If the Jets miraculously finish the season with the No. 1 overall pick, this question becomes moot: they’ll just draft Lawrence. But if they own the No. 2 pick, there will be a serious discussion as to who the Jets should take, and it very well may be Wilson when all is said and done.

Is Zach Wilson a legit option for the Jets with the No. 2 pick?

The Jets will have a big question to answer in the 2021 draft if they pick a quarterback, and BYU’s Zach Wilson could be their best option.

The Jets will have a big decision on their hands in April if they own the No. 2 pick. Do they draft a quarterback? Do they trade the pick? Do they draft someone else?

If they go with a quarterback, which one? 

Those questions won’t be answered until draft day, but Joe Douglas will spend a lot of time between now and then evaluating all his options. One of the most intriguing options with the No. 2 pick is BYU quarterback Zach Wilson.

A fringe draft prospect a year ago, Wilson catapulted himself to the top of the board with an electric style of play that fits the current quarterback model. Fresh off his five-touchdown performance in a rout of UCF, Wilson is Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded college quarterback this season. He also ranks top-five in competition percentage, passing yards, yards per attempt and passing touchdowns.

For awhile, Ohio State’s Justin Fields or North Dakota State’s Trey Lance were the best quarterbacks in the draft behind Trevor Lawrence. But between Fields’ inconsistent play and Lance’s limited tape – he only played one game this season because of the coronavirus pandemic – neither has emerged as the consensus No. 2 arm. Wilson, meanwhile, has proven himself as a precision passer and dual-threat playmaker. Now, it’s possible he leapfrogs Fields and Lance in the draft.

Wilson checks off a lot of boxes for what teams look for in a modern NFL quarterback. 

His 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame is a solid foundation for a player at his position and he backs it up with great plays. Wilson is among the best statistical signal-callers in the whole country. He threw for 3,699 yards and 33 touchdowns this season and rushed for 263 yards with 10 scores. Wilson’s 73.1 completion percentage is also astonishing and gives credence to the idea that he doesn’t make many mistakes. He threw just three interceptions this season and only had four turnover-worthy passes on 353 dropbacks – best in the country.

Wilson has great pocket awareness, too. His average time to throw is just 2.74 seconds when blitzed, per Pro Football Focus, and he’s only allowed 10 pressures – including five sacks – while being blitzed on 22.2 percent of his dropbacks. When he’s flushed outside the pocket, Wilson excels as well. He has the second-best PFF passing grade (87.5) when throwing outside the pocket.

The knocks against Wilson are not necessarily his fault. He hasn’t played the best competition during his college career and he floundered against an 11-0 Coastal Carolina team. Wilson dominated every game he was supposed to, though, including Monday night’s Boca Raton Bowl. He lit up a weak UCF defense three times through the air and twice on the ground.

Looking back even further, Wilson wasn’t exactly dynamite prior to this season. Unlike Lawrence and Fields, who’ve looked elite the past two seasons, Wilson only recently broke out. He averaged just 1,980 passing yards, 11.5 touchdowns and six interceptions during the past two seasons.

His fit in a Jets offense is reliant on who Douglas chooses to coach the team. There are going to be flaws in Wilson’s game as he acclimates to the NFL, and they’ll need to be massaged out. A good offensive-minded coach would be able to cut out those mistakes quickly, depending on who is hired.

There is a long evaluation process ahead for Douglas and the Jets that will push the team closer to an answer for the draft. If the Jets miraculously finish the season with the No. 1 overall pick, this question becomes moot: they’ll just draft Lawrence. But if they own the No. 2 pick, there will be a serious discussion as to who the Jets should take, and it very well may be Wilson when all is said and done.

Is BYU’s Zach Wilson the 2nd-best QB in the 2021 NFL draft class?

Has BYU’s Zach Wilson passed Ohio State’s Justin Fields as the No. 2 quarterback prospect in the 2021 NFL draft class?

Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence has been destined for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft since he first stepped on the field for the Tigers, but for about as long, it’s seemed like Ohio State’s Justin Fields was the clear-cut, second-best quarterback prospect in this year’s class.

But as the 2020 college football season winds down, a season in which Fields has played just six games, and struggled against the better defenses he’s faced, a worthy challenger has emerged in BYU’s Zach Wilson.

Wilson capped off an impressive 2020 campaign with a dominant performance Tuesday night against UCF in the Boca Raton Bowl:

Wilson did much of his damage in the first half, including scoring all five of his touchdowns before heading to the locker room at the break.

All season, Wilson has shown off the kind of skill set that is sure to make NFL decision-makers thinking twice about keeping Fields ahead of them on their draft board.

There’s still a long predraft process to go through, but what would have seemed like a preposterous question just a few months ago has become worth of real consideration heading into the end of the calendar year and the beginning of draft season.

While some teams could easily still have Fields ranked ahead of Wilson, the former has certainly made a strong case to be the second quarterback off the board come next April. At the very least, it’s safe to say that for many, Wilson has already jumped ahead of other big names like Alabama’s Mac Jones, Florida’s Kyle Trask, and North Dakota State’s Trey Lance.

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BYU 49, UCF 23: Boca Raton Bowl 10 Things To Know

BYU 49, UCF 23. The 10 ten things you need to know about BYU win over UCF in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.

BYU 49, UCF 23. The 10 ten things you need to know about BYU win over UCF in the RoofClaim.com Boca Raton Bowl.

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BYU 49, UCF 23: Boca Raton Bowl

10. Was there a more underappreciated running back in the country than Tyler Allgeier? The BYU sophomore started the season hot, ended the season hotter, and finished with 1,130 yards and 14 touchdowns averaging 7.5 yards per carry – and he missed the San Diego State game. Zach Wilson is the superstar of the show, and the offensive line opened up a whole lot of big holes, but Allgeier was brilliant.

9. It’s been a really, really rough run for the Boca Raton Bowl. This was the seventh all-time game and none of them have been closer than 15 points. The seven-year all-time score is 323-138 – an average of 46-20. BYU was up 49-10 with just under 20 minutes to play.

8. No, this isn’t an indictment on UCF football, and for all the great things the program has done over the last few years, this doesn’t mean things are slipping … yet.

Remember, the Knights had a whole slew of player opt out before the season,  they still beat Georgia Tech by 28 – don’t mock it; there weren’t many Group of Five over Power Five wins this year if you take out Liberty and the Sun Belt – and the explosion was still there.

The losses? 50-49 on the road in a heartbreaker against Memphis, Tulsa, Cincinnati, and BYU. The two AAC championship combatants, a BYU team that was painfully close to being in a New Year’s six game, and a wild shootout.

7. All season long, BYU had a knack for ripping off big plays early and taking the heart out of a game. It did that against UCF, but UCF was supposed to be able to keep up. The first BYU scoring drive went 87 yards in under two minutes, and the second went 72 yards in four plays. The Cougars out-UCFed, UCF with a 14-0 lead four minutes in.

6. A 35-7 lead late in the first half, no turnovers, over 33 minutes of possession, and just one punt on the night. This was as perfect a bowl game as BYU could’ve come up with. As it showed throughout the season, when the lines were able to take over and the team was on a mission to make a statement, it was able to do it.

5. BYU didn’t do anything fancy defensively but 1) not let the UCF speedsters gets into space like Coastal Carolina could, and 2) it got off the field. It didn’t generate any takeaways, there wasn’t any pressure from the line, and it allowed UCF to hit 50% of its third down tries. However, it came up with the early stops it needed to, the offense did its thing, and it was 21-0 in the blink of a first quarter eye.

4. It was a bad day for UCF. BYU was totally focused, too physical, and it had an NFL franchise quarterback have an NFL franchise quarterback day. To put how rare this loss was into perspective, it was the first defeat by more than eight points since dropping the 2016 Cure Bowl to Arkansas State four years ago.

3. This was a complete and total disaster for the American Athletic Conference. Not only did Tulane lose big in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl to Nevada earlier in the day, but UCF was playing in Florida in a game that should’ve been the type of shootout it likes, and it was out of it two minutes in.

Considering Coastal Carolina beat BYU, it was a bad look that UCF didn’t look like it belonged on the same field as the Cougars, who started out the season rocking Navy from the AAC.

2. If you’re an NFL GM and you didn’t already have a hard opinion and scouting thought on Zach Wilson, you’re a bad NFL GM. However, if it’s possible, Wilson just helped himself in a huge way with his 26-of-34, 425-yard, three-touchdown, two touchdown run performance.

He was flawless, he didn’t make any mistakes, he was calm, and he was in command from the start. Now, with this, get ready for the buzz that the Jets might go with him over Justin Fields.

1. Considering what BYU had to do just to get together a schedule, this was a miraculous season. It rolled through it, the only blip was a wonderful game against Coastal Carolina that was put together at the last second, and it turned out to be an 11-1 campaign with a totally dominant performance against a brand-name UCF team. Zach Wilson might be off to the NFL, but it’ll be interesting to see what the program is capable off in normal times now that it showed it could do this.

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