Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer does not lack confidence. The Fighting Irish finished last season with a 4-8 record, and there are a number of quarterback prospects (including North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson and Cal’s Davis Webb) who could be taken before Kizer in the upcoming draft. Despite that, the signal caller believes he should be a candidate for the top-overall pick.
“Name a college quarterback who goes into the game-plan meetings on Monday and throws his notes at the coaches,” Kizer said (via Tom Pelissero of USA Today). “No one else game plans the way I do. No one else prepares the way I do. No one else knows football the way I do. No one else is as big as I am. No one else is as powerful a runner as I am. Pat Mahomes might throw the ball 80 yards and I can only throw the ball 72, but I guarantee he can’t throw an out route the way I can.
“No one else can do what I can do. And I’ve truly figured out in this (draft) process, if I can maximize all my potential in every aspect of the game – this is bold – I do have the ability to be the greatest quarterback to ever play. Imagine taking (Tom) Brady’s intellect and Brady’s preparation and putting it on a guy with Cam Newton’s body. Why can’t I be the greatest? The only thing stopping me from it is me. That’s what’s driving me now.”
Our own Dallas Robinson had Kizer being selected by the Saints with the 32nd pick in PFR’s recent mock draft.
Let’s check out some more draft notes from around the NFL…
- The Giants are not fans of this year’s offensive line class, reports Ralph Vacchiano of SNY.tv. The team sorely needs some reinforcement on the unit, and Vacchiano notes that the team could consider Utah’s Garett Bolles and Wisconsin’s Ryan Ramczyk. However, it’s more likely that the organization moves forward with their current crop of lineman.
- Don’t expect the Lions to be drafting offensive lineman, either. As Kyle Meinke of MLive.com writes, Bob Quinn spent much of last season revamping the unit, so it’s unlikely that he commits more picks to the offensive line. Instead, the general manager expects to select the best players available, especially in the first round. “I’m big into the best player available,” Quinn said. “I mentioned it last year, best player available, meshing with kind of what your needs are on your team, so I think you kind of have to look at both avenues when you’re making decisions in the draft.”
- LSU safety Jamal Adams met with the Jets earlier this week, tweets ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine. However, the prospect said that the organization was skeptical that he’d still be available with the sixth-overall pick. Adams was projected to be selected by the Chargers with the seventh pick in our recent mock draft.