Ourlads' Profile:
2018 Guide: What Ourlads' NFL Scouting Services said about SAM DARNOLD: Southern Cal, 6033 221 4.87. Third-year sophomore entry from Capistrano Beach, CA. Two-year starter and team captain. Was red-shirted in 2015. Has a strong, sturdy athletic frame and the ability to throw on the move. Hard to believe but Darnold is the first USC quarterback to throw for 4000 yards in a season. His best game was in the 2017 Rose Bowl where he passed for 453 yards in a seesaw win over Penn State. Was named the MVP of the Pac-12 championship game after passing for 325 yards and two touchdowns versus Stanford. Demonstrated more accuracy in 2016 with experienced receivers hitting 67.2% of his passes. Delivers the ball accurately on predetermined spots out to the right or left. Really struggled with turnovers and bad decisions in 2017. He actually could have had several more interceptions but balls were dropped or just batted down. You win games by avoiding losing them and Darnold turned the ball over 37 times in 26 games. Not smooth or polished in the pocket. Footwork is awkward. Careless and sloppy with the ball. Throws into double coverage on a regular basis. Many of his receivers had to make great catches in the open field to keep drives going. There appeared to be a lot of miscommunication with the receivers in 2017. Inconsistent accuracy. Was more of a flash player than a consistent one last fall. Appears poised in the pocket but lacks ball security. When teams pressure him off his throwing spot he opens his hands and drops the ball. Holds the ball out in one hand most of the time. Has a long throwing motion and a weird delivery. Holds the ball down where it is easy to bat out of his hands. A build-up speed delivery. Has wasted motion with a little bit of a wind up. Needs work on mechanics from head to toe. Did not throw at the Combine. Ball speed is unknown. Will hold the ball too long in the pocket at times. Question if he has the feel for the rush. The former linebacker has toughness, but struggles with a functional quarterback aptitude. Concluded the last five games of his college career with six touchdown passes and three interceptions. Did not throw a touchdown pass versus UCLA or Ohio State. He needs a lot of time with the right coaches before he even gets on the field. The mental processes a quarterback must have are not NFL ready yet. At times he appears to be playing intramural football with a disregard for fundamentals. Needs to sync up his lower body with his arm. Forces too many balls into traffic. Lacks space awareness. Jameis Winston threw 18 interceptions as a college junior and is still turning the ball over. Will be over drafted on potential. 2017 stats: 303/480, 4143 yds, 63.1%, 26 TD, 13 INT, 82 yds rushing, 5 TD, 148.1 QB rating. Did not throw at Combine. OSR:7/18. First round. (A-31, H-9 3/8, SS-4.40, VJ-26.5).