NEXT ON OUR SCOUTING REPORTS IS TREY LANCE. CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR OTHER SCOUTING REPORTS BELOW.
BACKGROUND
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 224 Lbs
- College: North Dakota State Bisons
- Year: Sophmore
- Position: Quarterback
Trey Lance is one of the top quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft. He is a dynamic playmaker who will be much debated in the run up to April.
Trey Lance opted out for the 2020 season after completing just 1 full season at North Dakota State University (NDSU). He did make an appearance in an exhibition game against Central Arkansas, but that was the last we will see of Lance as a Bison.
Lance was born in Canby, Minnesota and was a 3 star recruit out of Marshall High School. He was the top ranked QB in Minnesota and had originally said he wanted to become a Gopher and attend the University of Minnesota. But, after holding discussions with the coaching staff, if he were to attend Minnesota he would have be asked to play safety.
Determined to play quarterback, Lance turned down multiple offers from multiple power five colleges before accepting an offer from NDSU.
As a redshirt freshman, Lance started all 16 games and set divisional records for the most passes thrown without a single interception. He went on to win the Walter Payton Award for being the most outstanding offensive player and the Jerry Rice Award for being the best freshman player.
Lance is a strong armed quarterback with run threat ability. He is an extremely good athlete and follows in the mold of modern day NFL quarterbacks.
Trey Lance is likely to be selected early in the 2021 NFL Draft. He displays all the traits to love in a quarterback coming out of college.
Take a look at the video below which shows Lance’s playmaking ability.
STRENGTHS
- Prototypical Modern NFL QB
- Athletic
- Mature Pocket Presence
- Great Runner
- Good Decision Making
Firstly, what stands out on tape is Lance’s maturity. Especially for his age. He has great poise and is calm in the pocket. He never appears to be nervous under pressure.
The second thing that stands out is his pure athleticism. When you look at the modern day NFL quarterback, athleticism has become a crucial trait. They don’t have to be Lamar Jackson type athletes, but being mobile and being able to pick up 7 or 8 yards is now essential to quarterbacks entering the NFL.
Lance is exactly that. He can escape pressure and throw the ball on the run. He can also rush on the ground. NDSU used him on zone reads and power rushes, but NFL teams are unlikely to risk potential injury.
On his throws Lance throws a catchable ball and has good placement. He throws with anticipation and trust. Lance is also accurate on the move and when throwing off the back foot. He can still make the throw when he is being forced off balance or when he is taking a hit. This is super important when transitioning to the pros.
He also can take care of the ball. As his 28 touchdowns and 0 interceptions record suggests. We know decision making won’t be a problem. Lance doesn’t force throws that aren’t on, but can create big plays when they are presented.
Lance has great arm talent and can drive the ball downfield. He produces great velocity and curve on his throws and is accurate enough in tight windows.
Lance can also sell the play fake brilliantly when running play action. It’s by no means an essential trait, but it is a little thing that some teams will like.
WEAKNESSES
- Level of competition
- Lack of play time
- Some technical issues
The main criticism Lance will get is the level of competition he has played against. He just hasn’t played against exceptional talent at the FCS level.
This will be a problem for some, but it may not be the be all and end all. For instance, Carson Wentz was drafted #2 overall in 2016 out of NDSU and was being spoken about as a potential MVP candidate until his injury.
The bigger criticism is likely to be the lack of play time he has had. Lance only has 1 season of competition. He really does need more snaps under his belt and is a reason why many were disappointed when he opted out for the season.
NDSU are also a predominantly run first team giving teams even less passing plays to evaluate. Having another season of tape would have settled down some concerns.
The lack of snaps means that Lance will enter the NFL as a raw prospect. His reactions could be quicker at times and has had some technique issues.
Lance has also been mostly a one read QB. If his first read isn’t open he tucks the ball in and sets off on the run. This is a NDSU scheme issue and not Lance’s fault, but it would have been nice to see him work through his progressions a little more at times.
At times his stance has been caught to wide meaning he is susceptible to the stop sack. With his feet not being set properly it means the timing of his throws can be a bit off. Lance is accurate, but not precise and correcting some technique issues will help.
SUMMARY
It is highly unlikely Trevor Lawrence will be unseated as the top quarterback in this class. It means Trey Lance is now amongst a cluster of quarterbacks forming behind.
Not playing this season may end up hurting Lance. Not because of the lack of snaps, but because those around him are performing outstandingly. Justin Fields has had a stellar start to his season and BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is now being talked about after being extremely impressive.
It will be a huge test for Lance to reproduce what he did at college in the pros and it may take him a while to settle in. But, he has the traits you look for in a young quarterback.
He has a big arm, he is accurate and he has escapability. But more importantly, he can bail you out as a play caller.
Depending on the final draft order if a quarterback needy team pass up on Lance, it is likely that those with aging quarterbacks drafting high take a chance on him as the quarterback of the future.
There are plenty of teams who will be drafting in the top 10 who will have to swing the bat eventually, and being able to sit Lance behind an experienced quarterback may be the perfect situation.
DRAFT PROJECTION: TOP 10.
How good of a prospect is Trey Lance? Let us know over on Twitter @NinetynineYards and @Owain_Jones_
FEATURE IMAGE CREDIT: Bruce Kluckhohn | ASSOCIATED PRESS
VIDEO CREDIT:CREDIT: NCAA Championships
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