What’s not to love about Utah State Signal Caller, Jordan Love?
Listed at 6-4, 225lbs, a redshirt junior, Jordan Love is the ideal size for a prototypical NFL quarterback with many tools that make him an interesting prospect to keep an eye on this season. Currently ranked as my QB5 in a pretty tight race, Love has the potential to burst into the top three by the end of the season.
After a quick film study, Love’s potential can be seen in his athleticism and arm strength. Despite his size, Love is surprisingly nimble and displays an ability to break tackles, find gaps for open space, and fight for extra yards. When throwing the ball, Love’s arm talent is evident. He has shown the ability to throw the ball on the run with substantial power making him a threat outside of the pocket.
However, with his athleticism, comes some drawbacks. When scrambling, Love does not do a great job protecting his body from unnecessary contact. He tends to fight for extra yards as opposed to sliding or running out of bounds which will be a concern for teams at the next level. Furthermore, Love seems to rely on his arm strength first, as opposed to making a smart decision when throwing the ball. Love will take shots downfield, looking for the home run ball frequently. On throws to all levels of the field, Love can be inconsistent in delivery by putting too much air under the ball, leading to some overthrown balls.
Utah State doesn’t run a very complicated offense and many times, Love looks to the sideline to call plays make checks. Love has shown the ability to make progressions, but does get stuck eyeing his initial target. He also struggles to get rid of the ball quickly under pressure which results in sacks. His desire for big plays also can get him into trouble. Love also seems to have an allergy to stepping up into a clean pocket, instead he drops back even more or runs outside of the pocket in an attempt to escape pressure that was never there.
This season, I want to see love clean up his game post-snap by slowing down and making better decisions to protect both himself and the football. Love is a special player that should continue to draw attention by scouts and media. Due to the many teams that may be looking for a new signal caller, expect Love to go early in the draft, due to his unique skill set.
