If Luke Falk had entered the 2017 NFL Draft, I believe he would've been selected at some point in the first two rounds. He elected to return to Washington State for his senior campaign, though, and I believe he made the right decision. There's plenty to love about his game, but I thought an extra year at the collegiate level would increase his chances of having a long, successful NFL career. Here's my scouting report for the Cougars QB.


Luke Falk, senior quarterback, Washington State

Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 225 pounds (school measurements)

2016 statistics: 443-of-633 (70 percent) for 4,468 yards, 38 TDs, 11 INTs.

Game tape watched: Boise State (Sept. 10, 2016), Idaho (Sept. 17, 2016), Minnesota (Dec. 27, 2016).

What I liked: Falk operates with excellent poise. He never looks flustered and he shows a complete command of coach Mike Leach's offensive system. While much will be mentioned about the lack of production for some of the top QBs in the country, Falk doesn't have that issue. His career stats are eye-popping.

Falk operates in the shotgun and he is quick to scan and throw with anticipation. Although he plays in an Air Raid offense, he does read the entire field. He has a very quiet lower body (calm, firm base) and a smooth release. He has tremendous touch at all three levels. Leach gives him a lot of responsibility in the offense and he has handled it extremely well.

Where he needs to improve: Falk doesn't possess a huge arm. It hasn't been a big issue for Falk because he is so adept at throwing with anticipation. However, he does need to add some RPMs to his throws and it has been reported that he's added weight/strength during the offseason. He's a functional athlete, capable of avoiding the free rusher, but he isn't much of a threat as a ball carrier. Fair or unfair, he will have to answer questions about the lack of success Air Raid QBs have had at the next level. I think he'll be given more responsibility to make calls at the line of scrimmage this season and that should ease some of those concerns.

Biggest takeaway: Falk was smart to return to school for his senior season. I doubt he would've started as an NFL rookie this fall, and he's guaranteed to get thousands of reps (practices/games) at Washington State. I've had a chance to visit with him and I came away very impressed. He reminds me a lot of Kirk Cousins. Both guys played a lot of football in college (4-year players) and helped elevate their programs. They are also both very mature and respected by coaches and teammates. If Falk can add a little strength, I think he's going to be a long-term starter at the next level.

I can't wait to see him play ... Stanford on Nov. 4. I know most college football fans will point to the Apple Cup matchup (Nov. 25 at Washington) as must-see TV, but I'm looking forward to this rematch. Falk torched the Cardinal on the road last fall, throwing for 357 yards and 4 TDs. If he can somehow come close to duplicating those numbers and knock off Stanford for the second straight season, it would send quite a message to NFL evaluators.

Lamar Jackson took home the Heisman Trophy last year, but he's not receiving as much buzz as some of the other top QB prospects heading into the 2017 season. He is college football's most electric playmaker and Louisville is capable of knocking off any team in the country when he's on his game. I recently had a chance to study three of his games from last season. Here's my scouting report.

Lamar Jackson, junior quarterback, Louisville

Height, weight: 6-foot-3, 200 pounds (school measurements)

2016 statistics: 230-of-409 (56 percent) for 3,543 yards, 30 TDs, 9 INTs. 260 carries for 1,571 yards (6.0 average), 21 TDs.

Game tape watched: Florida State (Sept. 17, 2016), Clemson (Oct. 1, 2016), Houston (Nov. 17, 2016)

What I liked: Jackson primarily aligns in the shotgun/pistol, but he does take some snaps from under center. He shows quick feet in his drop and has an explosive/snap delivery. He can generate plenty of velocity without incorporating much of his lower half. He flashes the ability to accurately drive the ball into tight windows.

He has tremendous upside as a passer but his ability to make plays with his legs is what makes him special. He has Mike Vick-type explosiveness when he takes off on designed QB runs or scrambles. He gets up to top speed immediately and destroys pursuit angles from opposing safeties. He isn't quite as shifty as Vick, but he is just as fast in a straight line.

Where he needs to improve: Jackson has a ways to go to develop into a consistently accurate passer. He has a bad habit of locking out his front leg, screwing himself into the ground and falling off throws. This dramatically affects his ball placement and touch. He flashes the ability to work to Nos. 2-3 in his progression, but usually if No. 1 isn't there, he looks to run. In his defense, the pass protection at Louisville was terrible at times (see Houston game).

The other major concern about Jackson is his thin frame. He is very wiry and he'll need to add some bulk to withstand a 16-game schedule at the next level. The same things were said about Deshaun Watson early in his college career. He packed on plenty of bulk before leaving Clemson and hopefully Jackson will do the same.

Biggest takeaway: I don't use the Mike Vick comparison lightly. Vick is the most explosive quarterback to ever play the position. Jackson has that type of dynamic speed. However, Vick was a more polished passer and Jackson has some mechanical improvements that need to be made before he'll be capable of matching Vick's professional success. If Jackson can clean some of these issues up, watch out!

I can't wait to see him play ... Clemson on Sept. 16. Jackson put on an impressive display against the Tigers last fall, but Louisville came up a little short against the eventual national champions. This time, Jackson gets to play the Tigers at home. Last year, a highly rated Florida State squad came to Louisville and got thrashed. That was probably the moment that won Jackson the Heisman Trophy. If he leads his team to a win over Clemson this year, his campaign for a second consecutive Heisman would receive a huge jolt.