College of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett reminds one AFC government of Johnny Manziel on the sector.
“He’s a very good model of Johnny Soccer — higher body, head on shoulders and arm, and he’s a greater chief,” the chief informed Sports Illustrated.
The comparability was fascinating since Manziel’s NFL career lasted two seasons and eight begins with the Browns earlier than off-field controversies led to the downfall of his professional profession.
Manziel, a former star quarterback at Texas A&M, received the Heisman Trophy in 2012. He was chosen twenty second total by the Browns within the 2014 NFL Draft.
Whereas there isn’t any clear frontrunner to be the highest quarterback within the 2022 NFL Draft class, Pickett has impressed NFL scouts all through his senior marketing campaign at Pitt, throwing for 4,319 yards, 42 touchdowns and only one interception.
He completed third within the voting for the Heisman Trophy, which went to Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
“Athletic, gutsy… Sort of hit the scene exhausting out of nowhere like [Joe] Burrow and balled out,” the chief informed Sports activities Illustrated about Pickett. “Love the child. He’s acquired the it issue. Child has balls… We now have a methods to go, however undoubtedly if the draft was immediately, he could be [the first quarterback] taken.”
The 23-year-old Pickett led Pitt to its first-ever Atlantic Coast Convention championship with a win over Wake Forest on Dec. 4 — when he pulled off a pretend slide on a 58-yard landing run.
The play led to the NCAA banning the move, and Pickett responded on Twitter, writing, “Modified the sport!”
Pickett will showcase his play-calling skills subsequent on the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Dec. 30, when the Panthers (11-2) play Michigan State (10-2) in Atlanta.
Manziel was reduce after the 2015 season, lasting simply two years within the NFL. He frolicked within the CFL and the defunct Alliance of American Soccer earlier than playing this year for the Zappers of the Fan Controlled Football league.
