One of the larger questions that exists about projecting quarterbacks from college to the pros is how the prospect will adjust to NFL concepts and schemes. The football IQ of a player is arguably no more important than at quarterback, so the schematic learning curve is usually the most difficult transition for college quarterbacks.
During the 2017 season, 23 of the 64 Power Five schools had a head coach and/or defensive coordinator that had experience coaching defenses or defensive positional units in the NFL.
ACC
Boston College
Big 10
Indiana
Ohio State
Illinois
Minnesota
Nebraska
Big 12
Baylor
Kansas State
Texas Tech
Pac-12
UCLA
Colorado
Oregon
USC
SEC
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Vanderbilt
Alabama
Auburn
LSU
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
The best talent in the country resides in the Power Five Conferences, and these schools possess head coaches and/or defensive coordinators that have been immersed in NFL defensive concepts and strategies.
So of the NFL Draft’s top incoming quarterback prospects, who performed best against these type of teams?
JOSH ALLEN – WYOMING (One Game)
SAM DARNOLD – USC (Three Games)
LUKE FALK – WASHINGTON STATE (Two Games)
LAMAR JACKSON – LOUISVILLE (Three Games)
BAKER MAYFIELD – OKLAHOMA (Five Games)
JOSH ROSEN – UCLA (Three Games)
MASON RUDOLPH – OKLAHOMA STATE (Three Games)
MIKE WHITE – WESTERN KENTUCKY (Two Games)
OVERALL CLASS
The Draft Database 