I don't watch nearly enough Pac-12 football to have a good read on these quarterbacks, but where does this kid project to go? He's been nothing but pretty damn good for USC at least as far as his stat line goes, and he looks damn good at feeling/avoiding the rush in this bowl game. It always bewilders me how quarterbacks can play for big time programs (like USC), specifically in a pro-style offense that is tailor-made to translate to the NFL, and they don't get talked about. Does he have a weak arm? Can he not make all the NFL throws? At any rate from what I see I'd take a flyer on this kid if he's there in the mid-rounds. Tough to argue against a career 87-18 career TD/INT ratio, but I could be wrong. Anyone have some more insight on him?
He just doesn't seem all that special. If he was at a different school he may be talked about more but QBs out of USC immediately have red flags. They just can't seem to be successful. Along with WRs. Kessler just doesn't have the IT factor and teams aren't gonna gamble a high pick on him. It's honestly just buyer beware with USC QBs. The only USC QB worth a damn in 20+ years is Palmer.
If anything it seems like the IT factor is what might draw teams to him. He has a decent record as a quarterback and seems like a hell of a competitor for an undersized guy with an arm on the weaker side. I could be wrong though.
In all honesty I haven't really watched him play. So my opinion can only be taken so far. I just know he isn't highly touted. But it is fact about USC and the rate of success in the pros. I do know that he just isn't really considered special and isn't even in the top 5 of QB rankings for many. USC's programs performance along with the toughness of the PAC 10 has decreased. Kessler not having the best intangibles per se along with a weaker arm could be big knacks.
This is true. From what I've seen tonight it could be a velocity problem. He's a smaller guy who looks like he could struggle getting enough power behind his balls outside the numbers and in tight windows but I haven't really seen any throws he can't make. Maybe it's the fact that he won't be able to squeeze those tight throws past NFL defensive backs because the closing speed between college and NFL defenders is way different.
