The
discussion about whether the Cardinals should look for their quarterback
of the future with the seventh pick in the draft has been muted by the
consensus that there really is no franchise quarterback available this
year. Players such as Geno Smith and Ryan Nassib simply aren't seen as
being in the same class as Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, et
al.
But the story might be different -- at least
according to one quarterbacking expert -- if local kid Brett Hundley
were just one year older. David Clarkson, a renowned quarterback tutor,
said in an exclusive interview over the weekend that he believes
Hundley, a redshirt sophomore this year who went to Chandler High School
before heading off to UCLA, would be the "top pick" in this year's
draft if he were eligible.
Here's the
rest of what Clarkson had to say, as transcribed by
FOXSports.com's Ross Jones:
The NFL Draft is just
days away, and while many experts have negative things to say about this
year’s crop of quarterbacks, one will probably end up being selected in
the first 10 picks.
Whoever that player is (Geno
Smith?) better thank his lucky stars, because one famed quarterback
coach says if UCLA’s Brett Hundley were eligible, he’d be the cream of
this year’s class.
“I think he’d be the top pick in
(this year’s) draft,” famed QB guru Steve Clarkson told FOXSports.com in
an exclusive interview over the
weekend.
Hundley had one of the
more memorable seasons in school history, leading the Bruins to a 9-5
record, a win over USC and a berth in the Holiday Bowl. Although the
quarterback is only a redshirt sophomore this year, at the end of the
season he will have been out of high school for three years, making him
eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft.
“I love Brett
Hundley because he is a big, physical specimen that is an accomplished
passer even at a young age and was very dominant in high school. What he
did at UCLA was outstanding,” Clarkson said.
“He has
every element you want in a quarterback in terms of size, strength,
ability to throw on the move, ability to stay in the pocket, traditional
progression reads. He’s got the total
package.”
Clarkson has worked with the likes of Ben
Roethlisberger, Matt Barkley, Josh Freeman and Matt Leinart.
