Trey Lance will join Trevor Lawrence as part of the 2021 draft pool. A North Dakota State quarterback prospect who has been consistently mocked as a first-round pick, Lance will opt to leave the Division I-FCS school early to prepare for the draft, Pete Thamel of Yahoo.com reports.
Despite Lance having only played one season of college football, he is draft-eligible after redshirting in 2018. North Dakota State tabled its football season to 2021 but played a one-off game against Central Arkansas last weekend. That will double as the sophomore passer’s college finale.
In 16 games for the Bison last season, Lance dominated by throwing 28 touchdown passes (with no interceptions) and rushing for a Bison-best 1,100 yards. He has joined Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields, who has yet to declare, as top quarterback prospects for 2021. Lawrence is playing as a junior but announced he will leave Clemson after this season.
The 6-foot-4 Lance led North Dakota State, an FCS-level dynasty, to a 16-0 season and a national championship. The Bison have seen two recent passers go on to the NFL, with Carson Wentz‘s stock rising swiftly in 2016 en route to being the No. 2 overall pick. Lance’s predecessor, Easton Stick, is currently backing up Justin Herbert with the Chargers.
Still, it represents a major development that a non-Division I-FBS player is declaring after one season of action. The Division I-FCS championship game is scheduled for May 15, which would be a non-tenable setup for Lance since it falls after the draft. While Lawrence profiles as the player who will be connected to the team with 2020’s worst record, Fields and Lance figure to be in the mix soon after.
Top 5 pick good decision
He is not going to be a top 5 pick!! A first round pick probably. Though his game against Central Arkansas this past week showed very little. Inaccuracy, missed open receivers. He did run a bit but he’s a QB not a RB.
I didn’t see a 1st round talent, but in a QB needy NFL… someone will over draft him in the 1st round.
Same. He could benefit from another year actually. I don’t blame him though.
As with any QB landing spot will be key. I don’t see him as a top 10 pick. You’ll have Lawrence and Fields before Lance goes. Think more like Jordan Love range.
The Next Carson Wentz isn’t such an aspirational thing these days. Good thing he played That showcase so that scouts could see him complete half his passes against Central Arkansas.
I used to play with an Easton Stick. I think it had a Steve Yzerman blade.
This is an awesome comment. oh and me too!