MOBILE, Ala. — So after main TCU to the Faculty Soccer Playoff nationwide title sport, quarterback Max Duggan needed to transfer on.
Nonetheless, it is so troublesome to not replicate on a magical season for the Horned Frogs that noticed the soccer program attain the nationwide title sport for the primary time since 1938.
NFL enterprise was ready for Duggan, and on Monday morning he arrived right here to sort out the subsequent chapter of his life: NFL quarterback.
On Tuesday afternoon, Duggan practiced with the USA crew on the annual Senior Bowl with hopes of being drafted someplace in a quarterback class the place not less than 4 might go within the first spherical.
“It is a enjoyable expertise going via the method and studying the NFL methods and assembly with scouts and normal managers,” Duggan stated.
Earlier than going there, sure, each participant on the All-American and Nationwide Staff rosters will meet with each NFL crew in attendance on the Senior Bowl. So the Cowboys will sit down with Duggan sooner or later this week and discuss soccer.
Duggan will enter the NFL draft after setting profession highs in passing yards (three,698) and touchdowns (32) in his senior season. It was a season when coach Sonny Dykes selected Chandler Morris because the beginning quarterback over Duggan and, properly, you realize the remaining.
NFL groups like Duggan’s aggressive nature, and he’ll must show he can command a way more advanced offense than the one he operated in faculty.
“I believe it is a studying curve,” he stated. “I nonetheless suppose there’s lots of ideas, terminology that carry over from faculty to the NFL. You see lots of related ideas. Clearly, there are some variations, lineup variations, and terminology in how some groups or coaches would possibly name one thing. However they’re nonetheless related in each facets. I am excited to get into it and be taught so much about it.”
The projection for Duggan is just not decided. A powerful efficiency on the Senior Bowl might push him to a Day 2 decide, probably.
For the primary time in years, the Senior Bowl doesn’t have a projected first-round decide on this sport.
Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy stated his sport has produced 181 gamers who’ve gone within the first spherical over the previous 10 years. And never having a projected first-round decide at quarterback is not a adverse.
A have a look at final weekend’s convention championship video games is a living proof. The 49ers began Brock Purdy, a seventh-round decide who was the final participant drafted final yr at No. 262. The Eagles began Jalen Hurts, a second-round decide, at No. 53 general.
“Based mostly on our grades, our Senior Bowl grades and after we make our league grade cut up calls in November, this class is all the fourth-fifth spherical group,” Nagy stated, “which is the place the place Jalen Hurts was simply three years outdated. a couple of years in the past and now it is fairly cool to see Jalen within the Tremendous Bowl and Jalen leap that yr. So I believe there’s going to be a man or two going into Day 2. There’s some Day 2 guys which are again at school.”
Duggan popping out of the NFL draft after enjoying with a damaged bone in his foot in 2021 did not appear actual. He accomplished 63.9 p.c of his passes in 10 begins.
The 2022 season performed out like a dream, particularly the upset win over Michigan within the Faculty Soccer Playoff semifinals and ending second in Heisman Trophy voting to USC’s Caleb Williams. Duggan additionally gained the Davey O’Brien Award, given to the nation’s high quarterback. He’s the primary TCU participant to assert the award, named after the previous TCU quarterback who gained the Heisman Trophy in 1938, which was additionally the Frogs’ solely nationwide title.
“It has been a really eventful season,” Duggan stated. “Lots of issues occurred, TCU and Fort Price, it is one we’ll keep in mind, a particular season. A number of nice recollections. We did not end the season the way in which we wished, however for the reason that finish of the season issues have moved shortly for us, the teaching workers, with the gamers all shifting on to the subsequent chapter. There hasn’t been a lot time to replicate, however we perceive it has been a particular season.”
Twitter: @calvinwatkins
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