With the NBA season in full swing, we know who many of the top players and teams are. But what about their stats? What have they done before coming to the league? How did they wind up playing with a team like Golden State or Atlanta instead of someone else? We answer all that, plus more!
Malik Willis is a professional football player for the Oakland Raiders. He has been playing since he was 18 years old, and he has had an amazing career so far. This article will provide you with stats, background and analysis of Malik Willis.
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ESPN’s Jordan Reid
In the NFL draft of 2022, there will be a distinct set of quarterbacks. There have been obvious top possibilities at the position in each of the last three draft classes, including eventual No. 1 selections Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawrence. That isn’t the case with this group of quarterbacks, since there is no agreement among NFL scouts and executives on who the top quarterback is.
Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh, who is rated first by Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, has been the most consistent of the lot. He returned for his senior season and saw his value skyrocket from late-round prospect to top-15 selection.
With at least one game left, Matt Corral led Ole Miss to its first double-digit win regular season, while Desmond Ridder of Cincinnati has a program-record 13 victories; the Bearcats meet Alabama in the College Football Playoff Semifinal. Malik Willis of Liberty, Sam Howell of North Carolina, and Carson Strong of Nevada have already rewritten the record books at their respective programs.
The order for the quarterback class might still develop as the draft process progresses, with the Senior Bowl and NFL combine scheduled for February and March, respectively. Teams will continue to do their research on each player.
Let’s look at each of the top six quarterbacks in this class’s background stories and journeys, as well as their strengths, shortcomings, Kiper and McShay rankings, and what’s next. We’ll start with Pickett then go on to a couple of late-round alternatives that NFL clubs could be interested in:
Corral | Howell | Pickett Ridder | Strong | Willis | Corral | Howell | Pickett Ridder | Strong | Willis The remainder of the class’s best
Senior year | 23 years old | 51 years old 6-feet-3-inches tall | 220 pounds
In 14 games in 2021, he threw for 4,319 yards, a 67.2 percent completion rate, 42 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
McShay’s QB1 (No. 20 overall) | Kiper’s QB1 (No. 20 overall) (No. 16)
Every season, scouts and evaluators look for a quarterback who has the potential to make a significant jump forward in his career. Kyler Murray of Oklahoma, who took over for the Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 selection in the 2018 NFL draft three years ago, did the same thing. LSU’s Joe Burrow orchestrated probably the finest offense in college football history two seasons ago. Last year, BYU’s Zach Wilson excelled his route to being selected second overall.
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Pickett might be that player in the 2022 draft. Based on his prior two seasons, when he threw 13 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in both 2019 and 2020, nobody predicted this jump. With an ankle ailment, he limped through last season. Despite this, he considered entering the draft last year, even accepting an invitation to the Senior Bowl, before electing to return to Pitt for a final season.
Pickett wasted no time in putting his name into the bucket of possible breakthrough players in the 2022 draft, since there was no apparent QB prospect. He had 1,342 passing yards and 17 total touchdowns (15 passing, two running) during the first month of the season, with just one interception. He was unstoppable for the balance of the season, tossing at least two touchdown passes in every game. He broke Dan Marino’s single-season Pitt record of 37 touchdown passes established in 1981. He also shattered Deshaun Watson’s ACC single-season record (41 points) set in 2016, putting up the highest single-season performance in league history. Pickett led the Panthers to their first ACC championship with an 11-2 record.
Pickett has the most passing yards (12,303), completions (1,045), and touchdown passes (81) in Pitt’s history, and his record 2021 season placed him among all-time great Larry Fitzgerald. Since Fitzgerald, he was the first player from the program to be invited to the Heisman Trophy presentation.
Pickett, a former point guard and outfielder at Ocean Township High School in New Jersey, came from a family of collegiate athletes. Kenneth, a former All-American linebacker, was inducted into the Shippensburg University (Pennsylvania) Hall of Fame in 2012 and owns the all-time records for career tackles (455) and single-season interceptions by a linebacker (seven). Kasey, his mother, is a former Kutztown University soccer player (Pennsylvania).
Pickett, a 24-year-old rookie with 50 collegiate starts, will make his NFL debut. His eyes, arm, and mechanics are all in sync when he’s positioned and balanced in the pocket. When he operates outside of the limitations of the offense, his days as an outfielder are evident. He showed talent as a runner this season after fully recovering from his ankle ailment, and he was much better when rushed out of the pocket off schedule. He possesses B-level arm strength but is very precise across the board. He knows how to diagnose and attack coverages, and he always appears to have a game plan when in the pocket.
Fourth-year junior | 23 years old | 26 years old when career begins 6-feet-2-inches tall | 205 pounds
In 12 games in 2021, he threw for 3,339 yards, a 68.4 percent completion rate, 20 touchdown passes, and four interceptions.
Kiper’s QB3 is ranked 23rd overall, while McShay’s QB2 is ranked second (No. 17)
Corral is one of numerous quarterbacks who attended high school in California and are starting for college schools this season, including Bryce Young (Alabama), C.J. Stroud (Ohio State), and D.J. Uiagalelei (California) (Clemson). The former four-star recruit from Ventura was one of the most decorated throwers in state history. He passed for over 11,000 yards and 123 touchdowns over his three years at Oaks Christian before going to Long Beach Poly and completed his career.
Corral redshirted in 2018 and then started four games in 2019, seesawing back and forth with John Rhys Plumlee while throwing six touchdowns and three interceptions. Corral committed to both USC and Florida before enrolling with Ole Miss. After a 4-8 season, the Rebels hired Lane Kiffin as their new head coach.
Corral took over as the full-time starter as a result of his collaboration with Kiffin. In 2020, he started all 10 games and threw for 3,337 yards and 29 touchdowns, although his main flaw was turnovers. He threw six interceptions against Arkansas and five against LSU in two games that season, accounting for 11 of his 14 interceptions.
Corral has fit into Kiffin’s up-tempo style and developed into a more comfortable player in his second season. His talents coincided wonderfully with the run-pass-option-centric game, which required a fast processor and decision-maker.
Senior year | 22 years old | 46 years old 6-feet-4-inches tall | 215 pounds
In 13 games in 2021, he threw for 3,190 yards, a 65.9% completion percentage, 30 touchdown passes, and eight interceptions.
Kiper’s QB2 is ranked No. 21 overall, while McShay’s QB4 is ranked No. 4. (No. 33)
Cincinnati’s run has been one of the finest tales of the season, with Ridder leading the Bearcats to their first College Football Playoff appearance. His route to Cincinnati was unusual and required some forecasting. A three-star talent from Saint Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky, it required a last-minute workout with his high school teammates to grab the attention of the Bearcats’ coaching staff.
Coach Tommy Tuberville wanted to add a quarterback in the 2017 recruiting class, but he had qualms about Ridder due to his small stature. On Kentucky Oaks Day, the day before the Kentucky Derby, a member of the coaching staff drove to see Ridder and a few of his colleagues, which is an official holiday in the city. Ridder was outdoors at the crack of dawn, flinging passes left and right. He was pleased with the simulated throwing exercise, and when at Churchill Downs, he got a phone call from Tuberville. Ridder hurried for a quiet spot, eventually settling on a neighboring port-a-potty, when he got the message that would alter his life forever: his first and only scholarship offer.
Senior year | 22 years old | 23 years old when career begins Weight: 215 pounds | Height: 6 feet 1 inch
In 13 games in 2021, he threw for 2,857 yards, a 61.1 percent completion rate, 27 touchdown passes, and 12 interceptions.
Kiper has a QB4 ranking, while McShay has a QB3 ranking (No. 27 overall)
Willis attended Westlake High School in Atlanta for his first two years of varsity football, where he played with previous first-round choices Cam Newton and Adam “Pacman” Jones. He concluded his career at Roswell High School, where he led the team to a 14-1 record and a 7A state title berth.
Reid is ESPN’s newest NFL draft commentator. He is a former quarterback and assistant coach at North Carolina Central University. He formerly worked for The Draft Network as a writer and scout. More information »
Willis was primarily recruited as an athlete rather than a quarterback by most institutions. He committed to Virginia Tech as an athlete in June of 2016, with the team planning to move him to defensive back. He changed his mind and decommitted five months later. He verbally committed to Auburn and then-coach Gus Malzahn, assuming he was a quarterback.
In 2017 and 2018, he joined with the Tigers and spent his first two seasons as the backup quarterback behind Jarrett Stidham, throwing only 14 passes in total. Willis was projected to take over as the heir apparent when Stidham left for the NFL in 2019. Things didn’t go as planned, as he was beaten to the top of the depth chart by Bo Nix.
Willis opted to go to Liberty, where he would be paired with Hugh Freeze, a well-respected offensive thinker. He utilized his time off from the 2019 season, which he had to sit out due to NCAA transfer restrictions, to get ahead on courses for grad school and to absorb a new playbook.
For the Flames in 2020, he had 2,260 passing yards and 944 running yards. He had the most rushing yards of any quarterback in the FBS, and he also threw 20 touchdown passes and just six interceptions. He was instrumental in Liberty’s first-ever victory against an ACC opponent, a spectacular four-TD effort against Virginia Tech. That triumph boosted Willis’ profile, and he rapidly became a household figure in draft circles.
With all eyes on him moving into his senior season, he broke the program’s single-season touchdown pass record with 27, passed for 2,857 yards and ran for another 878 yards. He did, however, more than double his interceptions from 2020, with six in his last three regular-season games.
Willis’ physical abilities are immediately apparent as soon as he comes onto the pitch. When he scrambles, he has a heavy physique and a strong arm, and he appears like a running back. His footwork, down-to-earth decision-making, and ability to comprehend coverages all need to be improved. The fact that he didn’t play with pro-level skill will be taken into consideration by NFL clubs.
Senior year | 21 years old | 36 years old Weight: 220 pounds | Height: 6-foot-1
In 11 games in 2021, he threw for 2,851 yards, a 62.7 percent completion rate, 23 touchdown passes, and nine interceptions.
Kiper’s QB5 | McShay’s QB5 rankings (No. 34 overall)
Howell comes from a sporting family, having set a state high school record with 17,036 total yards at Sun Valley High School in Monroe. His father, Duke, was a wrestler at Appalachian State, and his mother, Amy, was a good middle blocker on the volleyball team. Howell, a four-star prospect, committed to Florida State in 2018 with the expectation of becoming the quarterback who would lead the Seminoles back to prominence.
However, the return of Mack Brown to Chapel Hill prompted Howell to switch and join with UNC after an eight-month loyalty. He was seen as a vital figure who may reignite a program that had been dormant since 2015. In 2019, he started all 13 games and established a rookie school record with 38 touchdown passes, earning him the ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Following an outstanding season, his success continued in 2020, as he led the league in passing yards (3,586) and touchdown passes (30) while leading the Tar Heels to an 8-4 record.
Howell was regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the 2022 draft class heading into his junior season. He had one of his worst games of his career in the season opener against Virginia Tech, ending 17-of-32 throwing for 208 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions with all eyes on him.
Despite the fact that it was just one game, that experience proved to be instructive. Howell had lost his top four targets from the previous season — receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome, as well as running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter — and he had to learn how to lead an offense while adjusting to new players.
Senior year | 22 years old | 31 years old 6-feet-4-inches tall | 215 pounds
In 12 games in 2021, he threw for 4,186 yards, a 70% completion percentage, 36 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.
Kiper’s QB6 | McShay’s QB6 rankings (No. 47 overall)
Strong has traveled a long way to reach this position. He was an excellent basketball player at Will C. Wood High School in California, averaging slightly over 14 points and 10 rebounds over his career (84 games).
His fluidity on the hardwood translated to the football field, and he had a breakthrough junior season in 2016. He threw for 2,732 yards and 26 touchdowns in ten games. Despite this, he wasn’t being recruited by many colleges and didn’t have any offers until the summer, when he took advantage of the high school 7-on-7 circuit. He was named to the team at De La Salle High School, a quality squad led by former NFL running back Maurice Jones-Drew, and garnered high praise. Traveling with that squad drew the attention of Nevada’s coaching staff, and after an official visit to campus while competing in an AAU basketball tournament on campus, Strong was sold on the lone school that took a risk on him and gave him a scholarship.
However, it was on the verge of not happening. An MRI indicated that he had osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion after suffering discomfort in his right knee during a basketball event, forcing surgeons to implant eight biodegradable nails into his knee to mend a split in the bone. He was unable to play in any sports during his senior year as a consequence of the injury, and he has had three operations during his career.
Nevada stood by him, and he enrolled at a nearby community college and took additional courses to graduate and enroll in Reno ahead of schedule. While recovering his injuries, he redshirted for the Wolf Pack in 2018, and after returning to full health, he soon created a name for himself. In 2019, Strong became the program’s first freshman starter in 21 years (Mo Jones in 1998). That season, he threw for 2,335 yards and 11 touchdowns, and he’s only gotten better since.
In the NFL draft of 2022, the best of the rest
Other quarterbacks that might be picked in April include:
Bailey Zappe, Western Kentucky: Following his offensive coordinator, Zach Kittley, to Western Kentucky, Zappe threw for 78 touchdowns in 36 games at Houston Baptist. He had the most productive single-season throwing performance in FBS history, setting records for passing yards (5,967) and touchdowns (62). He makes quick decisions and tosses with a lot of anticipation. Zappe has a slightly above-average arm at 6-1, 220 pounds, but scouts want to see him outside of the offense in which he has a Ph.D. to have a better picture of his next-level projection. Zappe will compete in the Senior Bowl among a number of other noteworthy players at the position in this class.
Iowa State’s Brock Purdy: Purdy is already the school’s career passing yardage leader (11,966). His erect demeanor allows him to rapidly discharge the ball and make judgments. In 2019, he had a breakthrough sophomore season, setting single-season career highs in passing yards (3,982) and passing touchdowns (27), and he has been commended for his leadership throughout the season. Purdy must continue to eliminate turnovers and sprinkling in poor mistakes from his game. He’s the sort of quarterback clubs may fall in love with in the later rounds and use as high-quality insurance for numerous seasons as a backup. He’s 6-1, 220 pounds. The East-West Shrine Bowl will feature Purdy.
• Kiper » | McShay » | Kiper » | Kiper » | Kiper » | Kiper » | Kiper » | Ki • Reid’s first mock draft for 2022 » • Who’s going to be No. 1 in the draft? • More information » | Complete ranks »
Brown: EJ Perry, EJ Perry, EJ Perry, EJ Perry, E Since enrolling to Brown, Perry, a Boston College transfer, has continued to break records. He established an Ivy League record for total offense (3,678 yards) in his debut season, and he also led the team in passing (2,948) and running yards (2,048). (730). Despite a 2-8 season after the 2020 season was canceled, he returned and increased his productivity in numerous areas. He threw for 3,033 yards and 23 touchdowns, while also rushing for 402 yards and seven more scores. Perry, who stands 6-2 and weighs 210 pounds, is a strong-armed and determined runner who has had success in a shotgun-spread system. In the East-West Shrine Bowl, he will compete.
UCLA’s Dorian Thompson-Robinson (DTR) is an intriguing and powerful athlete. He showed improvement as a passer at 6-1, 205 pounds, but his decision-making has to be improved further. Because the game began with him throwing two interceptions in the first quarter, a six-touchdown performance (four passing, two running) versus USC gives a glimpse of his whole career. He had nice flashes after that as he settled in. Thompson-Robinson might be a possibility for a practice squad spot for clubs looking to develop a player at the position.
Dustin Crum, Kent State: Crum has been one of the most prolific players in school history, joining Josh Cribbs as the only players to exceed the 9,000-yard mark. He’s a dual-threat quarterback with lots of value as a passer and in the run game at 6-3, 207 pounds. In 2021, he threw for 3,238 yards and 20 touchdowns, taking another stride forward in his skills as a quarterback. Crum might be an NFL developing prospect.
Cal’s Chase Garbers is the son of a former Georgia golfer and a four-year starter at quarterback. His last season with the Bears was his greatest, with career highs in passing yards (2,531), passing touchdowns (16), running yards (456) and rushing touchdowns (four) (four). He has 34 starts at 6-2, 225 pounds and has showed signs of rediscovering his form after back-to-back strong seasons in 2018 and 2019. He can show consistent touch and timing despite having a mediocre arm. His background and success in many systems might make him appealing to clubs.
