Sam Howell is a 21-year old quarterback who starred at North Carolina for three seasons. The Washington Commanders picked him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. The North Carolina QB gets the ball out of his hands with impressive quickness. 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. And most seem to agree that it is time to go to Howell for the final game and see what they have in him during his rookie season. His touch on deep balls is a real strength, says USA Today's Natalie Miller. 21-8, 5th ACC. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Kenny Pickett. 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. After making projections for NFL Draft 2022, North Carolina Tar Heels record-breaker, Sam Howell dropped out of the first three rounds. . Edward Sutelan is a content producer at The Sporting News. Despite a reduced schedule due to the global situation, Howell came up just 55 yards short of his 2019 yardage total. With his high school career complete, all eyes turned to National Signing Day. "So they came to me and asked if I was fine if it became a bigger part of the offense.. "It is home,"Howell told Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer. 1) Sam Howell, North Carolina. He can fire the ball into his receivers with very little effort. So are his intangibles, according to Breer. Howell also showcased his ability to scan the field, read his . David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. Natural looking off the safety, looks away from covered targets, and generally plays smart football. Raiders: Cam Heyward Heating Up; Kazee, Spillane Get Bigger Roles (+), Analysis: One Big Thing Thats Missing from Steelers Run Defense, Steelers Grades vs. "Me running the ball was just something that we had success with," Howell told Breer. Sam Howell is recently trying for his entry to NFL Draft 2022 and is yet to appear for the selection. Furthermore, Howell improved as a dual-threat with an uptick in both rushing yards and touchdowns. Coming off a slightly disappointing senior season. Copyright: ESPN Sports Media Ltd. All rights reserved. Wingspan: 78 7/8 inches, Height: 6-foot-3 The minimum threshold for a quarterbacks hand size has been perceived to be nine inches. His limitations became clear to draft experts. 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. Their connection from North Carolina might be more fruitful than most expect. 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 . Hand size hasn't seemed to hinder them in the league. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet. NOTE: In the text of this post . January 8, 2023 at 10:30 p.m. EST. Howell started the season as a leading contender for the QB1 of the 2022 NFL Draft class. 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. Picketts age and hand size will presumably be criticized leading up to the NFL draft. and do not in any way, reflect the 21st century, modern-day policies of the University. 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. 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. 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. Height: 6-foot Weight: 213 pounds Hand Size: 9 3/4 inches Arm Length: 31 1/4 inches While going into his sophomore season, Howell received a lot of national recognition. He needs to showcase greater awareness in the pocket. 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. For today, lets take a brief look at Pittsburghs Kenny Pickett and North Carolinas Sam Howell. Made possible with the generous, community-minded support of American Public University Systems. Sam Howell was born on 16th September 2000 making him 22 years old as of 2022. They know how good of a teammate I was. Here is another play highlighting the arm talent of Howell. The mindset and effort you love to see in your quarterback. He keeps his eyes downfield and has demonstrated that he can throw with accuracy and distance while on the run. Steelers.com. If a draft pick doesn't pan out, particularly a quarterback, their heads go on the chopping block. Meanwhile, Mack Brown had returned for his second tenure at North Carolina. 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 . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. At 21, Howell is one of the youngest quarterbacks in the draft. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Hand Size: 9 1/4 inches I think Jake Fromm gave us a drop in the draft partially because of his hand size. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Weight: 220 pounds In the offseason, I will be writing up full profiles of the top players the Vikings should target. QB-ONLY MOCK DRAFT:Projecting where Pickett, Willis & 10 others will go. That led me to compare Howells game to that of Russell Wilson, and the two also share many similarities when it comes to being undersized passers with the arm talent to attack all quadrants of the field as well as the ability to escape the pocket and extend plays as a passer and runner. UNC lost 38-21 to South Carolina on Thursday in what may have been Sam Howell's last collegiate game. After Sunday's game, many took to social media to discuss the possibility of Howell starting. Here against the demon Deacons, Howell takes the snap and fires the ball over the middle of the field, airing it over Downss head when he has a step of separation on the coverage defender. 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. Sam Howell. One measurement I do look at is Hand Size, and Howell measured on the smaller side. For reference, Daunte Culpepper was consistently criticized for having small hands. Howell is an especially interesting case. 9 1/8'' 75 1/2. Footwork in the pocket can stand to improve and be more consistent by stepping into his throws 12 overall prospect and No. Desmond Ridder's hands measured at 10 inches at the combine. Sources: Heinicke starts, Howell to play for Wash. Sam Howell, North Carolina:Coming into the combine, Howell had the distinction of being the best deep ball thrower in the class. Has four receptions for 24 yards and two scores on trick plays in two seasons in Chapel Hill, capable pooch kicker Arm Length 30.75 inches. Darin Gantt. 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. Howell took Sun Valley to the North Carolina 3AA Regional Final in 2017 as a junior. Wilson took over in the second half and dazzled, completing 12 of 16 for 124 yards, highlighted by a 39-yard TD pass to Braylon Edwards. "I want them to really know how good of a leader I was at North Carolina, and how every single one of those guys on my team would fight for me. section: | slug: 2022-nfl-scouting-combine-malik-willis-desmond-ridder-sam-howell-among-quarterback-winners-and-losers | sport: football | route: article_single_special | Sam Howell is a 21-year old quarterback who starred at North Carolina for three seasons. Howells performance in the campaign 2020 met him with many breaking records which affected his career and made him gain media attention. If that is the case, then there is no reason to believe a team may not be comfortable taking him in the first round. 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 was brought up in Waynesville, North Carolina, where he spent his childhood and adulthood. At best - Drew Brees (with mobility) At worst - Baker Mayfield (+), Steelers Grades vs. 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. His hands were measured at 9 1/2 inches which are considerably larger than Picketts. This comprises multiple elements, but mainly, his ability to avoid contact and willingness to step up and deliver from the pocket needs to be more consistent. Already highly regarded, Howell dominated in his senior season. There were accuracy issues this season but some believe that it can be corrected with more consistent footwork in the pocket. Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan; Sam Howell: 6005, 218: 9 1/8: 30 3/4: 75 5/8: 40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash . With his continuous hard work and playing capacity, he has witnessed himself the winning of various records, including Second-team All-ACC (2020), Third-team All-ACC (2019), ACC Rookie of the Year (2019), ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year (2019), USA Today Freshman All-American (2019), and . The North Carolina offense lost a number of weapons, and the offensive line resembled something akin to Swiss cheese. He improved his completion percentage by 6.7 points and ranked fourth in the country in passing yards, according to ESPN. He starts as a true freshman and leads UNC to the Orange Bowl as a sophomore. His Tar Heels strung together back-to-back bowl appearances, a far better result than the 2-9 season that preceded Howell's arrival. He won his job responsibilities in the training camp and thereby became the first true freshman to begin within the season-opening game for Tar Heels. At times, his release is too slow, leading to missed passes. All Rights Reserved. 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 Once Howell found his comfort level as a college quarterback, he opened up his game to devastating effect. Sam Howell's first three seasons at North Carolina were dominant, passing for over 3,500 yards and 30 touchdowns each season. Today Canales is on hand at North Carolina to watch Sam Howell. Willis also earned some credit off the field when he was spotted doing a random act of kindness for a homeless person. One of the coaching . Ridder does not have the most commanding voice but he was very supportive of the other quarterback participants. 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. 2 quarterback in his first 2022 NFL Draft Big Board, Projecting where Pickett, Willis & 10 others will go. Get the fastest scores, stats, news, LIVE . For the moment, he is not committed to any girl nor is he seen with any mate while being available for the games. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell's long wait for a place in the NFL finally ended Saturday. 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. . 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. Arm Length: 30 5/8 inches Seeing as GM Kevin Colbert has already been on-campus to view Howell up close this fall and considering Mike Tomlins comments about wanting a QB with mobility that can execute Matt Canadas offensive system, Howell appears to be a logical fit based off those remarks as well as what he put on tape. Howell led Sun Valley to the playoffs and added another 3,217 yards and 38 touchdowns to his rsum. Why Sam Howell is one of the 2022 NFL Draft's top quarterbacks . 2 quarterback in his first 2022 NFL Draft Big Board. 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. Is it a big deal long term? He'll likely have lower expectations, which will allow him to develop away from the spotlight. For example, as North Carolina is attempting to come back against the Hokies, Howell rolls to his right as pressure gets to him throwing the ball up for grabs as he gets tackled, having the ball get intercepted on an arid pass. The Case for Anthony Richardson To Be the No. Although its been by necessity rather than design, Howell has developed as a threat in the ground game. It also uses College Football Reference basic statistics from . But, his performance made him earn the honor of ACC Player of the Week. He was expected to compete with then-Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler to be the No. . 7. Howell doesn't have elite athleticism and he struggled with decision-making in his final season in Chapel Hill. But as one recent Super Bowl-bound quarterback showed, hand size isn't everything. 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. Howells journey to the NFL Draft began as a hyper-productive high school quarterback in Indian Trail, North Carolina. There is a danger in Willis getting overhyped after his on-field performance. Team leader and a competitor that will put his body on the line to make a play These four QBs will at least be in the discussion for QB1 in the 2022 NFL Draft. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Sam Howell Who is the tallest tight end? Howell, on the other hand, . Delivers deep throws with speed and throws strikes down the field. A four-year starter for Sun Valley High School, Howell began to attract early attention with a fantastic freshman campaign. Analysis: After a brilliant sophomore campaign, much was expected from Howell last season. While he might not possess the same pure strength as Malik Willis or Desmond Ridder in this class, the North Carolina quarterback can still deliver a deep ball downfield. 2004-2023 CBS Interactive. Sam Howell scores 12-yard Rushing TD vs. NC State. Sam Howell. Mike Prisuta. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (PA/IL) or 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN only) or 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA only) or 1-800-522-4700 (CO Only) or TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789. Mar 04, 2022 at 12:32 PM. Team Round PK(OVR) WAS . He comes across a little more reserved than others in the group. After the speculation made the media attention, Howell answered the questions and denied the rumors that he was not now thinking of making his NFL entry for the season through one of his tweets. 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. 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. When work on the field began, the Cincinnati product continued to look impressive. Sign up for our newsletter and get every update delivered to your inbox! Height: 6-foot Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Sam Howell has been touted as a top high school recruit in the state of North Carolina . The combination of Longo and Howell, alongside some dynamic playmakers, made the North Carolina offense one of the most explosive in the nation. He was honored with the Military Bowl MVP for his performance, where he had a two-yard touchdown reception on a trick play. Access Sam Howell's Dynasty ADP and Lifetime Value Rating. Stroud To Be the No. There were no signs of a sophomore slump in 2016. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) reacts after scoring a touchdown on an 18-yard run in the first quarter to give the Tar Heels a 7-3 lead over Wake Forest on . He is a prolific passer at the high school and collegiate level and has shown the ability to rack up impressive stats in 2020 with a full supporting cast of NFL talent around him as well as in 2021 when the cupboards were bare, and he was forced to create more on his own without much help. Howell was surrounded by NFL-caliber talent during his first two years. A year ago, Sam . Those traits are not necessarily present at the NFL combine. That development adds significant value to his 2022 NFL Draft stock. Personally, Howell falls in-between the two as he possesses the arm talent and mobility needed to succeed in the NFL game but shares similar flaws that either must be ironed out by coaching or masked by scheme. By necessity, Howell was forced into a more mobile role, powering his way to 828 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. We noticed your adblocker is on. The result is forced throws to receivers that arent viable options. Events such as the 40-yard dash, vertical jump and bench press are always the focus of the Combine, but the early afternoon before the start of those events gives scouts the first chance to take its official measurements of each athlete. Steelers Daily Links: Combine Loves Mike Tomlin, More Ravens Infighting, Daily Links: Ex-Steelers React to Survey Grade, Flores Case to Trial, Steelers Daily Links: Free Agent DT Off the Market; Bengals Shoot Down Higgins Rumors, Daily Links: Predicting Steelers Cap Cuts, Joe Haden Joins Combine Coverage, Daily Links: Steelers Host Girls Flag Football Jamboree; Musical Tribute to Franco Harris, Senior Bowl Takeaways: Steelers Find Plenty of Good Lineman in Draft (+), Have the Ravens Figured Out the Steelers Run Defense? (Marta Lavandier / AP) Derek Stingley Jr. 1 Pick, The Case for Bryce Young To Be the No. Download all Sam Howell advanced stats and metrics, See Who is the heaviest running back? UNC. Quick hands in the RPO game when it comes from snap-to-pass or completing the option handoff to pull and pass He has impressive arm talent, mobility, ability to create outside of structure, and the competitive toughness you love to see in your QB. Weight: 217 pounds He did just that as a freshman, taking the reins of coach Mack Brown's offense. Pickett has historically small hands? 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. Vikings GM Rick Spielmans reported scouting travels have a common theme: the visits often involve quarterback prospects. Adding Phil Longo to his coaching staff made the Tar Heels an appealing destination for a young QB. Buy Tar Heels Tickets. Carson Strong's hands measured at 9 and 1/4 inches at the combine. The Saturday evening (30 April 2022) would see the drafts from rounds 4 to 7. Like at the NFL Draft, players are weighed and measured in what used to be a rather unseemly display of parading young men in their underwear in front of press and NFL teams. Junior year he loses his top 4 skill players to the NFL and completely changes his style of play. His lack of ideal height (5-foot-9) makes him as much of an outlier as Pickett's hand size. 12 overall prospect and No. Contributor Login MockDraftable is developed in the open by Marcus Armstrong, on GitHub.Feel free to submit any issues you find with the . The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. 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. Running this offense presents a challenge. For instance, Walt Bell, who had led Howells recruitment, was no longer in Tallahassee. Showed a lot of improvement in going through his reads, accuracy, and decision making this season compared to 2020, Lacks ideal height you look for in a traditional signal caller These are all important questions that are finalized as athletes prepare to show off their skills to scouts. This season, he has had a breakout year reminiscent of players like Mac Jones and Dwayne Haskins. January 8, 2023 6:31 pm ET. He currently sits as the QB4 on our Consensus Top 300 Big Board, but theres little to split this group. We may not see a signal-caller go No. As the NFL Combine is underway, Sporting News will be tracking measurements of top prospects, according to SN's Vinnie Iyer, this week. VOS rank in parenthesis spans all positions, enabling player comparisons across QB's, RB's, WR's, and TE's. He first made his debut with the Tar Heel while standing against South Carolina. The upward trajectory continued in his junior campaign, with 1,594 rushing yards and 24 scores. ranks PlayerProfiler page views over the last 30 days. He certainly showed the arm strength capable of pushing the ball down the field. After reflecting on what was seen in Lucas Oil Stadium Thursday night, here are some of the winners and losers at the quarterback position: Desmond Ridder, Cincinnati:Ridder was athletically superior to all of those that tested. Set the North Carolina record for total yards with 17,036 in high school He has the ability to zip an out route and lay touch on the deep ball. Many forget that Russell Wilson was an afterthought in the draft process, falling to the third round due to his size and questions whether he could be a starting-caliber QB at the next level. Hand Size 9.125 inches. NFL Combine Hand Size Results 1. If he were to have declared for the 2021 draft, Pickett likely would have been a mid-round selection. "For me, I just wanted to play early. He is 6'1 225lbs. 1 Pick, The Case for Will Levis To Be the No. QBs, 40 times & Cam's little brother. Last season, he completed 23 of 71 such passes for 838 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Does a good job keeping his eyes downfield when he senses pressure as a passer Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem? He ranks fifth in total touchdowns (111), eighth in total offense (11,292 yards), fifth in . 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. He saw increases in both his completion percentage and yards per attempt. The Athletic named UNC junior quarterback Sam Howell a first-team preseason All-American on Monday. He committed to Florida State, but once Mack Brown and Phil Longo got to Chapel Hill, North Carolina, they sold him on Longos high-powered offense. In 2020, Howell averaged 11.1 adjusted passing yards per attempt to . Hand Size: 9 & 1/8 In. Whats on Tap for Thursday at NFL Combine? His age is another point of optimism.