Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud didn’t have much competition in a Buckeyes blowout win, while Will Levis and the Kentucky offense were stifled by Vanderbilt. As a result, the quarterback stock watch was opened up this week to examine other signal callers. Here’s a look at whose 2023 NFL Draft stock is rising and whose is falling:
Jake Haener, Fresno State: Stock Up
Stats: (37-30 win at UNLV): 28-of-34 passes completed, 313 yards, 3 TD; 1 carry, -7 yards
Haener was a personal favorite when the studying college football‘s quarterbacks last year. He is not a physically-imposing player (6-foot-1, 200 pounds), but he is tough and efficient running the Fresno State offense. Expectations were relatively low coming into this game because there has been little buzz about him this season. He missed four games earlier this year and the Bulldogs are 6-4. When Haener has started, the team has gone 4-2 with the lone losses coming against Power 5 programs USC and Oregon State.
Against UNLV this weekend, Haener carried over his impressive play from last season. He does a good job of throwing with touch and anticipation. He is willing to stand up to pressure and deliver a pass downfield. His arm strength is not going to stack up well against other top quarterbacks in this class, but not every NFL quarterback needs to be Patrick Mahomes. There is a place for Haener at the next level even if it means being that consistent reserve option like a Colt McCoy or Case Keenum. His very first throw against UNLV was an example of an NFL-quality throw and it only continued from there.
Bo Nix, Oregon: Stock Up
Stats: (37-34 loss vs. No. 25 Washington): 19-of-27 passes completed, 280 yards, 2 TD; 9 carries, 59 yards, 1 TD
Nix has the fifth-highest passer efficiency among all quarterbacks, according to TruMedia. The film backs up the analytics. He is an efficient player who is not taking chances this season. The Auburn transfer has the second-highest completion percentage (72.8%), in addition to being sacked just three times all year.
Nix took several check-downs with 9.96 air yards per target against Washington. Of his 280 passing yards, 131 were created after the catch, according to TruMedia, but Nix is responsible for that as he puts the ball on his target and leads them to open space. On 2nd-and-15 and trailing by three points late in the third quarter, he rolled to his right and threw a pass roughly 50 air…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CBSSports.com Headlines…