While hes repaired his ailing stock some in the pre-draft process, there are still areas for improvement that could prevent Howell from ascending to the top of the class. Another example of Howells ball placement as a passer in his final collegiate game against the Gamecocks where Howell fakes the give and drops the ball over the shoulder to WR #11 Josh Downs as he works to the right sideline, dropping it in over the defender for only his receiver to make the play. 0:00. When looking for translatable traits, Howell has that feather in his cap. News, notes and nuggets from NFL Network coverage of Day One of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis: LIMITED VISIBILITY: Notre Dame's Jack Coan and Kent State's Dustin Crum were the only quarterbacks who ran the 40-yard dash in the first group. The average drop rate among all wide receivers in that same span of time was 8.49%. Position: Quarterback School: North Carolina Current Year: Junior Height: 6'0 1/4; Weight: 221; Wingspan: 75 5/8; Arm: 31 1/8; Hand: 9 1/8; Sam Howell Scouting Report. Sam Howell pulls off a trick play for North Carolina TD, Howell and Olson connect for touchdown to extend lead, End Zone! But, his performance made him earn the honor of ACC Player of the Week. However, when comparing his 2021 tape to last season, you see improvement in his pocket awareness, footwork, and accuracy under pressure which I stated when scouting Howell this summer had to improve to be considered as a top quarterback prospect. Sam Howell. 12 overall prospect and No. ASHBURN, VA - JUNE 14: Sam Howell #14 of the Washington Commanders participates in a drill during the organized team activity at INOVA Sports Performance Center on June 14, 2022 in Ashburn, Virginia. 66 to the Lions in his latest mock draft, Howell told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer, ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Howell as his No. . Does a good job keeping his eyes downfield when he senses pressure as a passer When the California native finally takes the field for talent evaluators, it will be just him at his Pro Day. and that the Steelers aren't always going to show their hand. Howell picked up where he left off in high school making an immediate impact on the field in Chapel Hill as a talented passer. He did just that as a freshman, taking the reins of coach Mack Brown's offense. Desmond Ridder's hands measured at 10 inches at the combine. He comes across a little more reserved than others in the group. He rushes for 828 . I would personally say that Howell has the more impressive arm talent and is more of a threat with his legs and at extending plays than Mayfield. North Carolina's Sam Howell ranks first among Power Five quarterbacks in completions of 20-plus yards since 2019 with 66, per Pro Football Focus. Has fantastic contact balance as a runner, bouncing off tackles and can play through contact to extend the play North Carolina QB Sam Howell was a trendy preseason Heisman candidate before the 2021 campaign kicked off. Howell has used the pre-draft process to help repair some of his draft stock. Additionally, Longo was part of the Ole Miss team trying to recruit Howell. His lack of arm strength will limit him on tight-window throws and ones outside the numbers. Howell also has a bad tendency to have balls sail on him over the head of his intended target when he gets pressure in front of him, causing him to throw early as sort of short arm the throw. As the night was winding down, it turned into a 'how late can you throw the go route' contest to see who had the strongest arm and Willis stood out. 6-3. He secured his third consecutive season of 3,000+ passing yards and 30+ passing touchdowns. From a weight standpoint, Howell is well-built, a factor that makes him tough to bring down as he can absorb hits effectively while still standing on his feet. After achieving a highly publicized recruiting personality, Howell appeared to play for the University of North Carolina and flipped his original choice of Florida State University. 1 overall for the first time since the 2017 draft. By Jonathan M. Alexander. Consensus four-star prospect and No. After a falling out with Florida State, he switched his commitment to the Tar Heels and then-new head coach Mack Brown. That development adds significant value to his 2022 NFL Draft stock. . . Today, Ill be profiling a quarterback prospect the Pittsburgh Steelers have shown interest in this fall and that could rank high on their board come Draft Day. While Howell has shown considerable improvement in this facet of his game this season, there are still instances of situational awareness where he needs to make better decisions. . Pro Football Network, LLC. Mar 04, 2022 at 12:32 PM. Access Sam Howell's Dynasty ADP and Lifetime Value Rating. . He currently sits as the QB4 on our Consensus Top 300 Big Board, but theres little to split this group. Throwing to the opposite hash is one of the most difficult passes to make for a quarterback, and Howell puts it on a rope where only his intended target could make the play. Although its been by necessity rather than design, Howell has developed as a threat in the ground game. His age is another point of optimism. Much like his sophomore season, Howell received public praise for his junior campaign, where he had another record-breaking series, garnering him the speculation about his entrance to NFL Draft. Sam Howell is currently our QB4 for rookie drafts, . #7 Sam Howell North Carolina 6'1 225 (5-7 round league grade) Wingspan: 76 5/8 inches. Meanwhile, Mack Brown had returned for his second tenure at North Carolina. His throws were crisp and on time, while few were inaccurate or misplaced. Hand Size 9.125 inches. 144 overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft. Malik Willis, Liberty:Willis did not do any of the athletic testing. Howell needs to recognize that he needs to live to play another down being that this play takes place on second-and-seven and that he should simply throw the ball away. Player Popularity Index (PPI) ranks PlayerProfiler page views over the last 30 days. Howell went to complete his true freshman season with 234 out of 388 attempts for 3,347 yards and 35 touchdowns, including 7 interceptions for the regular season. 1 Pick. Running this offense presents a challenge. Here against the Aggies in the Orange Bowl last season, we see another impressive run by Howell on 4th-and-short in the empty formation where he takes the snap and runs the QB draw up the middle weaving his way through traffic to pick up the first down and even bounces off a tackle attempt by the safety, eventually getting wrapped up by another defender and brought down by multiple Aggies after a successful conversion. As the NFL Combine is underway, Sporting News will be tracking measurements of top prospects, according to SN's Vinnie Iyer, this week. In the backfield were Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, two 1,000-yard rushers. Everyone was shocked Howell landed in the fifth round. Edward Sutelan is a content producer at The Sporting News. Stroud To Be the No. It was a rough start to the 2021 college football season for North Carolina and top quarterback prospect Sam Howell on Friday night, as the Tar Hells fell 17-10 at the hands of . Sam Howell has the tools to become a . In the offseason, I will be writing up full profiles of the top players the Vikings should target. That's not very encouraging. 7. Here against the Fighting Irish, we see Howell look to pass but has the linebacker baring down on him from up the middle, flushing him out of the pocket where he takes up field and sneaks past multiple defenders, shaking off one tackle attempt as he takes the scramble all the way to the end zone. In 2021, the departure of Dyami Brown, Dazz Newsome, Michael Carter and Javonte Williams severaly derailed Howell's 1.01 opportunity, but opened another door. The Saturday evening (30 April 2022) would see the drafts from rounds 4 to 7. The university, with approximately 3,155 students, is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The Sporting News looks at Howell's meteoric rise as a freshman, his struggles as a junior and what he can offer to NFL teams. A three-star recruit out of New Jersey, Pickett has started for the Panthers for four seasons, including four starts as a true freshman in 2017. He ranks fifth in total touchdowns (111), eighth in total offense (11,292 yards), fifth in . Howell has an NFL arm that can make all the necessary throws. Howell followed up with 5 touchdowns against Virginia Tech a program record for a freshman. The Washington Commanders selected quarterback Sam Howell in the fifth round (No. VOS rank in parenthesis spans all positions, enabling player comparisons across QB's, RB's, WR's, and TE's. Possesses incredible presence as well as wherewithal, delivers a catchable ball, and puts touch on throws when necessary. He certainly showed the arm strength capable of pushing the ball down the field. Made possible with the generous, community-minded support of American Public University Systems. Sam Howell, North Carolina:Coming into the combine, Howell had the distinction of being the best deep ball thrower in the class. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. They have similar size, builds, and arms, although Howell has more juice as a scrambler. They have a combined 8.6% drop rate. Spielman went to Syracuse to watch Liberty QB Malik Willis against the Orange in September and traveled to Nevada to watch QB Carson Strong vs. UNLV. His follow-up campaign proved it wasn't a fluke. The 2022 quarterback class hasn't received rave reviews. The combination of Longo and Howell, alongside some dynamic playmakers, made the North Carolina offense one of the most explosive in the nation. Who is the heaviest running back? Click for more coverage of the 2022 Senior Bowl. 1) Sam Howell, North Carolina. North Carolinas offense is limited in the number of plays it runs, which makes evaluating Howell simultaneously difficult and interesting. Much like most of that national media, Howell reminds me a lot of Baker Mayfield coming out of Oklahoma as the two standing next to each other look eerily similar having the same stature and size, similar arm talent, mobility, and play style. As a freshman, Howell had six games with over 300 passing yards, totaling 3,641 yards. Below are all the measurements for the quarterbacks at the 2022 Senior Bowl. Playing in just three seasons at the college level, Howell accumlated 92 passing touchdowns(3rd in ACC history) and most ever by a player in three or fewer seasons. QBs, 40 times & Cam's little brother. Wingspan: 78 7/8 inches, Height: 6-foot-3 Height: 6-foot Weight: 221 pounds Hand Size: 9 1/8 inches Arm Length: 31 1/8 inches Wingspan: 75 5/8 inches. The Washington Commanders picked him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. Named 2018 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior year NOTE: In the text of this post . The consensus first-round QB has been said to have small hands 8.625 inches is the official measurement; smaller than any 2021 NFL starting quarterback and it has been the subject of controversy for some reason. These four QBs will at least be in the discussion for QB1 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Weight: 226 pounds Jack Coan. Many have questioned Howells leadership ability due to his quiet demeanor and somewhat loose feeling at times in the pocket. ranks PlayerProfiler page views over the last 30 days. Projecting the top NFL rookies in 10 stat areas: What to expect from Pickett, Hall, Gardner, others, Washington Commanders NFL draft picks 2022: Analysis for every selection. Buy Tar Heels Tickets. Has some shake as a runner in the open field, being able to evade pressure as a runner or escape pressure when looking for the play down the field Feb 02, 2022 at 08:59 AM. For today, lets take a brief look at Pittsburghs Kenny Pickett and North Carolinas Sam Howell. Both of these quarterbacks have 9 1/8 inch hands, and it was the rookie who came out on top in the . Started all 13 games at quarterback as a true freshman, completing 259 of 422 passes (61.4%) for 3641 yards and 38 TDs with seven INTs while adding 94 carries for 35 yards (counting sacks) and a score on the ground Bob Jones University (BJU) is a private, non-denominational evangelical university in Greenville, South Carolina, known for its conservative cultural and religious positions. Howells 30 passing touchdowns led the ACC, with his 68 touchdown passes through two seasons being the most in conference history. However, Howell evades the pressure and escapes the pocket, weaving through defenders and running through tackle attempts as he sneaks his way into the end zone for the TD. We may not see a signal-caller go No. Out of the top quarterbacks in the 2022 NFL Draft, Sam Howell is by far the most frustrating.On one hand, you see the arm strength, improvisational ability, and how he made some laser throws down . Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Sam Howell was born on 16th September 2000 making him 22 years old as of 2022. Sam Howell's completion percentage dropped 5.6% while his interception percentage rose a half percent from 2% to 2.5%, which is not a drastic change. This gunslinger, off-platform throwing style has been a popular trait of QBs who have recently transitioned to the pros, and Howell has the same ability to keep the play alive when it breaks down. Mar 4th, 3:30PM. Has the arm talent to create on-the-run and make the impressive off-platform throws (Marta Lavandier / AP) Derek Stingley Jr. Raiders: Cam Heyward Heating Up; Kazee, Spillane Get Bigger Roles (+), Analysis: One Big Thing Thats Missing from Steelers Run Defense, Steelers Grades vs. He threw 64 yards at a high school combine event showcasing his arm strength going into his senior year it looks as if that throw power has improved in his two seasons at the collegiate level. Willing to stand in the pocket and take a shot to deliver the ball downfield to his intended target 1 Clemson 21-20. D'Eriq King, Miami:There has been conversation about King eventually switching positions for years. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet. Furthermore, hes showcased amazing zip on short and intermediate throws. 6-1. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. When work on the field began, the Cincinnati product continued to look impressive. 1 PPI player page is the most frequently visited page in recent weeks. Furthermore, Howell improved as a dual-threat with an uptick in both rushing yards and touchdowns. Not a real elusive quarterback who can be relied on to pick up yardage with his legs like he did in 2021. Why Sam Howell went from No. Carson Strong, Nevada:Strong's strengths are his command of the game pre-snap and his ability to work through progressions. Latest on Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell including news, stats, videos, highlights and more on ESPN Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. In a league that selects players, specifically quarterbacks, based on physical tools, Howell still managed to last until the 144th overall pick in an overall weak quarterback draft. Naturally, national attention followed. 2 quarterback in his first 2022 NFL Draft Big Board. 1 Pick, The Case for Bryce Young To Be the No. Reportedly, he is single and prefers to keep his status private from the publics view. Moreover, his 38 passing touchdowns in 2019 set an FBS record for passes by a true freshman. 1 overall selection in 2022. Already highly regarded, Howell dominated in his senior season. Vikings GM Rick Spielmans reported scouting travels have a common theme: the visits often involve quarterback prospects. He went to the Sun Valley High School in Indian Trail, North Carolina, where he made the record of 13,415 yards and 145 touchdowns. Keith Srakocic/AP. He keeps his eyes downfield and has demonstrated that he can throw with accuracy and distance while on the run. And his name was surging up draft boards ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Howell as his No. That didn't happen. Howell is an intelligent, accurate quarterback who possesses an excellent arm. While the sample size in the NFL is not enough, the back-to-back season comparison helps speak to this point. His touch on deep balls is a real strength, says USA Today's Natalie Miller. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE . https://vikingswire.usatoday.com/lists/here-are-the-two-quarterbacks-vikings-gm-rick-spielman-went-to-see-this-week-howell-pickett/, 2023 3-round NFL mock draft: Tyler Forness' 3.0, Vikings draft prospects: 8 players that impressed at the combine on Thursday, Vikings 2023 7-round mock draft: Matt Anderson's 5.0, 7 moves the Vikings need to make to get under the salary cap, Vikings draft prospects: QB/WR/TE interviews at NFL Scouting Combine, Vikings draft prospects: 6 players that impressed at the combine on Friday, Vikings 'sneaky-interesting' landing spot for star quarterback in 2023 NFL draft, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. School: North Carolina. Seattle's quarterbacks coach Dave Canales has been making the rounds to watch the top QB prospects throw at their pro days recently, including Malik Willis at Liberty and Kenny Pickett at Pitt. This made him win another honor of Second-team All-ACC honors in the process. But which ones will truly end up worthy of a first-round selection? While Howell has impressive arm talent, he often relies on said talent a little too much, having too much faith making the difficult throws instead of taking what is given to him. Arm Length: 30 5/8 inches 6-1 , 220lb (185cm, 99kg) Draft: 5th round, 144th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Washington Commanders. #5 and #6 - Derek Carr and Justin Fields. Sam Howell has been touted as a top high school recruit in the state of North Carolina after rewriting the record books in the state of North Carolina. And maybe, in that environment, Howell can show the talent that made him such a valuable commodity early in his college career. Value Over Stream: Valuation scheme calculates a players fantasy pts/game over the average waiver wire replacement in standard fantasy league formats during either the current season (or previous year during the offseason) and adjusts for positional bust rates. It is important to note that before diving into the criticism. What is the reason for the slide? He was honored with the Military Bowl MVP for his performance, where he had a two-yard touchdown reception on a trick play. He did rebound and was the most consistent and accurate passer over three days of Senior Bowl practices. Howell also needs to demonstrate consistency in relation to accuracy. He set himself apart in that sense. Wingspan: 75 5/8 inches, Height: 6-foot In 2020, Howell averaged 11.1 adjusted passing yards per attempt to . He has the ability to zip an out route and lay touch on the deep ball. You see that arm talent on this throw against Florida State where Howell takes the snap and delivers a strike to his receiver in the end zone for the score 40+ yards out, lofting it into the air in-between two defenders and allowing his big-bodied receiver to go up an make a play on the football. This is Howell's first career start after he fell in the 2022 NFL draft, landing with Washington in the fifth round. Adding Phil Longo to his coaching staff made the Tar Heels an appealing destination for a young QB. He and Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett were probably the most accurate with their downfield attempts. Growing up in North Carolina, Howell was named the Gatorade Player of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year by USA Today, the AP and the Charlottle Observe, in the state of North Carolina. Honorable Mention All-ACC in 2021, All-ACC Second Team in 2020, 2019 Freshman All-American, 2019 ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2019 ACC All-Academic. To be successful at the position in the NFL, King would need to display pinpoint accuracy, arm strength and mobility. As reported by Pro Football Focus, Howell had 66 completions for 32 TDs on throws 20+ yards downfield in 2020 with both numbers being tops in college football. He often fails to read the entire field, locking onto one target and failing to progress beyond there. Has good speed and mobility out of the pocket, being able to create out of structure He will try and fit balls into places he has no reason to throw to, risking the turnover like we see here against Notre Dame where he tries to drop the ball over the shoulder of his intended target but doesnt see the safety working his way over from center field, jumping in-front of the pass for the interception and taking it back the other way. Most of them will be departing from Indianapolis Friday. Howell's maiden season established him as a star. Howells physicality also manifests itself in the form of competitive toughness. I think Jake Fromm gave us a drop in the draft partially because of his hand size. I've used Senior Bowl data for the current crop and unofficial information on the players that were not in attendance, like Matt Corral. Commanders quarterback Sam Howell waves to the crowd as he leaves the . Chansky's Notebook: Sam Howell Factoids. According to Pro Football Focus, Howell had the most forced missed tackles by a Power 5 QB in a season with 65 in 2021 and the highest rushing grade by a QB since 2014. His hands were measured at 9 1/2 inches which are considerably larger than Picketts. There is a danger in Willis getting overhyped after his on-field performance. This year, one of the main focuses has been on Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. 18-11, 8th ACC. Weight: 220 pounds Arm Length: 31 1/8 inches While pocket management is difficult to be objective about given his subpar offensive line play, there are some areas where Howell could help himself. Read More. All Rights Reserved. Sam Howell shoe size is 8 UK and he loves to wear casual shoes. Has impressive arm strength for his size, having the ball jump off his hand on deep shots Once Howell found his comfort level as a college quarterback, he opened up his game to devastating effect. Of the other first-round quarterbacks candidates at the combine, Liberty's Malik Willis had a 9-inch hand, Mississippi's Matt Corral checked in at 9, North Carolina's Sam Howell was at . Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan; Sam Howell: 6005, 218: 9 1/8: 30 3/4: 75 5/8: 40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash . He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and is the recipient of many records for his team including the most passing yards of his career 10,283, a total of 109 touchdowns, 92 touchdown passes, and 38 single-season touchdown passes. NFL Draft experts claim the 2022 class possesses one of the weakest crops of quarterbacks in recent history. Come Get Me: Jordan Addison Sends Clear Message to Steelers, Steelers Draft Profile: Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson Would Love a Reunion with George Pickens, Antonio Brown Set to Become Part of AFL Teams Ownership Group, Steelers Draft Profile: Wisconsin LB Nick Herbig Looking to Follow Mentor T.J. Watts Path to NFL. Weight: 207 pounds It is the first step in the process of evaluating these players and their 2022 NFL Draft stock. VOS rank in parenthesis spans all positions, enabling player comparisons across QB's, RB's, WR's, and TE's. Today Canales is on hand at North Carolina to watch Sam Howell. The UNC QB is currently the QB4 on the Pro Football Network Top 300 Big Board as a top-50 prospect in the class. Set the North Carolina record for total yards with 17,036 in high school Although age isn't the be-all or end-all, especially in football, it does give coaching staffs more flexibility in managing Howell's career path. Although hes an intelligent quarterback capable of making pre-snap adjustments, there are some elements of decision-making that Howell can improve on. However, a difficult final campaign on Chapel Hill somewhat derailed his bid to lead this murky quarterback class. He is yet to be drafted by the NFL draft 2022, and the speculation is that he will surely win a place. Will lock onto his initial target at times and rely too much on his arm talent to try and fit it into tight coverage There were accuracy issues this season but some believe that it can be corrected with more consistent footwork in the pocket. Although the Tar Heels toiled at times during Howell's final season, his willingness to commit to a different role one that may have led to him dropping down draft boards is a promising sign. One of the more interesting discussions of the 2022 NFL preseason has been how former North Carolina and current Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell lasted until the first overall pick in the fifth round of this draft. Many players like Howell are yet to be selected through NFL Draft 2022 and it would be interesting to see which one would be ordered out of the board. He then flipped to the Tar Heels just days before the first signing period. The Commanders are reportedly telling . Hand Size: 10 inches 9 1/8'' 75 1/2. (+), Steelers Grades vs. Commanders QB Heinicke to start vs. Packers. The Case for Anthony Richardson To Be the No. For reference, Daunte Culpepper was consistently criticized for having small hands. That took the ball out of the hands of his best player, Howell. Darin Gantt. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. The 2022 NFL Combine is officially underway, which means it's time for fans to pay attention to the little details. That meant taking Howell out of the pocket and his element. Through 10 games, Pickett has thrown for 3,517 yards, 32 touchdowns and four interceptions. Sam Howell is a 21-year old quarterback who starred at North Carolina for three seasons. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Howell, on the other hand, . Sam Howell, North Carolina: . 40-yard dash: DNP Bench . Sam Howell player profile featuring advanced fantasy football stats, metrics & analytics: 40 time, burst score, agility score, SPARQ & hand size He starts as a true freshman and leads UNC to the Orange Bowl as a sophomore. The North Carolina quarterback showcased arm strength and accuracy on multiple occasions. Carson Strong's hands measured at 9 and 1/4 inches at the combine. Is it a big deal long term? With the opportunity to play in an exciting offense and stay close to his father, Howell flipped his commitment to UNC, giving Brown the first recruit of his second stint with the Tar Heels. Hand size: 9 1/8 Arm length: 30 3/4 Wingspan: TBD. Overall, while Howell doesnt have that elite size and has played in simplified offense in college, I see the traits Howell has as a potential franchise signal caller at the next level. During the 2015 season, he threw for 3,586 passing yards and 35 touchdowns while adding another 6 scores on the ground. This year, hes developed vision as a runner and used his physicality to become a constant threat on the ground. He saw increases in both his completion percentage and yards per attempt. Hand Size: 9 & 1/8 In. The gap between he and the other passers was evident. The Athletic named UNC junior quarterback Sam Howell a first-team preseason All-American on Monday. Hand Size: Did not measure Here is another example against Wake Forest where Howell keeps the ball on the option and takes off, meeting a defender at the five-yard line and bounces off the hit, having the defender fall to the ground as Howell stays upright and fights through another tackle attempt to get in for the score.