Will Top Juniors Go This Year?
Colt McCoy has put up some monstrous numbers so far in leading the Texas Longhorns to a 7-0 record and the #1 ranking in every poll and the BCS. He has an unreal quarterback rating of 190.76 with 1,894 yards and a 19-3 touchdown to interception ratio. He's completed 81.2 percent of his passes. Oh yeah, and he's leading the team in rushing with 371 yards on the ground and 6 more touchdowns in that area. He's the frontrunner for the Heisman and a lock for the top ten if he declares for the NFL draft after this year. The question now becomes does he declare? He's only a junior. He could stay and hone his skills and possibly become the first overall pick next year. He's also not considered the top junior quarterback, that would be Georgia's Matthew Stafford.
McCoy would be better served by staying his senior year and developing more. He would be more ready for success in the NFL by doing so. The quarterback McCoy replaced at Texas, Vince Young, declared after his junior year when he obviously needed more development as a passer. He has had minimal success passing in the NFL and his only real success has been running the ball. McCoy should not make the same mistake, he needs to stay another year.
Stafford, on the other hand, is most likely gone after this year unless he decides he wants a championship before he leaves. He is nearly a lock to be the first quarterback drafted this year because he has an ideal skill set for an NFL quarterback. He has a cannon arm, great intelligence, and presence in the pocket. He also knows when it's best to scramble.
Georgia is ranked seventh in the polls and it's only loss is to #2 ranked Alabama. Georgia has a 6-1 record. Stafford has been outperformed by McCoy so far this season but is considered a better pro prospect than the Longhorns' quarterback based on potential. Stafford has a 142.64 quarterback rating with 1,697 yards and a 10-5 touchdown to interception ratio. He has a 61.1 completion percentage but his receivers have underperformed so far this season, and he plays against tough SEC defenses. If the Detroit Lions continue to lose they could end up taking Stafford with the first overall pick in the draft if he declares after this year. That could be good for him because he would be paired with Calvin Johnson, who could become the next great receiver in the NFL. That could be an epic pairing.
It would be great to watch if both quarterbacks decide to stay for another year. They would be the top senior quarterbacks and would both be exciting to watch. It would be a battle between the two of them for the Heisman and we could see them play in the National Championship, either this year or next. That would be a great matchup.
10/21/08
