Four under-the-radar college QBs viewed by NFL scouts as early-round draft possibilities

The sixth quarterback taken in this year’s NFL draft didn’t come from the SEC or Big Ten or some College Football Playoff contending team from another Power Five conference.

It was Fresno State’s Jake Haener, who was selected in the fourth round by the New Orleans Saints.

While some quarterbacks may be more familiar to you because of being at more prominent programs, there are other QBs every year who are better prospects than some of those big-name guys who fly under the radar in terms of national coverage because of not playing on a huge stage. 

It will surely be the case again this year, too. That said, here are four under-the-radar quarterbacks that NFL scouting sources mentioned to On3 as being intriguing and on the NFL radar as potential top three round prospects heading into this season (listed alphabetically):

Memphis junior Seth Henigan

Henigan is entering his third season as a starter at Memphis after starting as both a freshman and sophomore.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Texas native ranked third in the AAC last year in passing yards (3,571) with 26 total touchdowns (22 passing, four rushing) and eight interceptions. He also improved his completion percentage from 59.1 as a freshman to 64.1 last season.

“He’s a guy that I’m kind of interested in that I think has some upside,” an NFL scouting source said. “He’s one that actually kind of excites me as a guy that could have a big rise this year.”

Henigan closed out last year by going 20 of 29 for 284 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions in leading Memphis to a 38-10 win over Utah State in the First Responder Bowl.

“I can see next level ability with him,” an opposing defensive coordinator told On3. “What they did when he was a true freshman, they ran a lot of RPOs. You could tell he did it in high school. He was very, very comfortable doing it. So he started as a true freshman and put up some real numbers his true freshman year. And then last year, he gave them a chance and you could tell he had a good grasp of the offense.

“He’s another kid that doesn’t get rattled. They did some things that he can do. Gets the ball out really quick and I think he’s got a bright future.”

Duke junior Riley Leonard

Leonard could be the next Duke QB to be an early-round NFL draft pick, a few years after Daniel Jones went No. 6 overall to the New York Giants in the 2019 draft.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Alabama native flashed big-time talent and potential as the Blue Devils’ starting quarterback last season after appearing in seven games (with one start) as a freshman in 2021.

Aided by Leonard, Duke posted a 9-4 mark in its first season under Mike Elko as head coach, which was the Blue Devils’ highest win total since 2014.

In addition to passing for 2,967 yards and 20 TDs with just six interceptions, Leonard also ran for 699 yards and 13 additional rushing touchdowns.

“I like him a lot,” an NFL scouting source said. “I think this guy’s actually really good. He’s kind of a sleeper that’s not really talked about in internet circles, but I would probably, if you asked me who I’d rather have right now, I’d rather have him over a lot of the guys underneath Caleb (Williams) and Drake (Maye).”

In Duke’s final regular season game last year, Leonard racked up 391 passing yards and four passing TDs in guiding the Blue Devils to a 34-31 victory over Sam Hartman and Wake Forest.

“I love him,” an ACC team official said. “He’s got ideal size and frame. He’s extremely athletic and can run. He’s got a basketball background and was recruited for basketball. He was a freak-show basketball player.  He could play somewhere easy with basketball. Dunk. Explosive. And when he gets in the open field, he can haul a—. And then he’s gotten progressively better each year throwing the ball. Looks like he knows where he’s going with the ball and can make all the throws and I think he’s got a high upside.”

There are at least some in the NFL scouting world as well as at least some coaches and team staffers in the ACC that view Leonard as the second-best QB in the conference behind Maye.

“I think Jordan Travis (at Florida State) is a really, really good college player and has obviously gotten better throwing the ball, but I just think as far as like pro potential, Riley is better because he’s a bigger framed, bigger kid and you still get the athleticism factor and I think he’s got a little bit stronger arm,” the ACC team official said. “And I think Tyler Van Dyke (at Miami) is a statue back there.”

Tulane fourth-year junior Michael Pratt

Pratt was a huge part of Tulane’s resurgence last year, going from 2-10 in 2021 to 12-2 and a top-10 national ranking last season.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Pratt ranked first in the AAC in QB rating (161.8), ahead of others such as Houston’s Clayton Tune, who was a fifth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in this year’s NFL Draft.

Pratt threw for 3,010 yards, ran for another 478 yards and accounted for 37 total touchdowns (27 passing, 10 rushing) with only five interceptions.

“What stands out to me, man, he’s tough as nails,” an opposing defensive coordinator said. “The whole team goes when he goes. Very smart. Doesn’t get rattled very easily. I think that kid’s a good football player. And man, I’ve seen him take some really hard blows and get right back up. Toughness comes to mind when I think about that kid. He’s a winner. He’s a winner. He’s a freakin’ tough football player. I love that kid.”

A starter since 2020, Pratt has tallied at least 26 total touchdowns each of the last three years. He has also improved his completion percentage each year from 55.1 in 2020 to 57.6 in 2021 to 63.6 last season. He has also cut down on interceptions from eight in both 2020 and ’21 to just the five last year.

“I don’t think he has a cannon for an arm to be honest with you, and I think the kid from Memphis’ arm talent may be a slight bit better, but he was really, really precise with his throws (when we played them last year),” the opposing defensive coordinator said. “And you’ve got a winner in him overall.”

Washington State fourth-year junior Cameron Ward

Ward transferred to Washington State last year after two award-winning years at the FCS level at Incarnate Word. 

He chose the Cougars over some other high level Power Five interest, including in the SEC, at least partly to reunite with his head coach from Incarnate Word, Eric Morris, who had been hired as Washington State’s offensive coordinator.

In his first season with the Cougars, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Ward was an honorable mention All-Pac 12 selection and had 3,231 passing yards, 23 touchdown passes, five additional rushing scores and nine interceptions.

“He’s got a unique skill set,” a Pac-12 offensive coordinator said. “His mobility in and out of the pocket is (special). The dude evades sacks … he’s like Houdini back there. I just think the ability of him to keep a lot of plays alive when they should be dead is something that I think is unique about him that only maybe a few guys in college football really have. And he has sneaky arm talent, too.

“When people see him throw, they may not sit there and think, oh, he has a big arm, but he has sneaky arm talent. He has the quickest release I’ve ever seen. And he’s actually very, very accurate short to intermediate.”

The word coming out of Washington State is that Ward took another step forward this spring and is in line for even more of a breakthrough year.

“Film was very up and down last year, but a talented guy,” an NFL scouting source said. “He’s got to improve a little bit this year, but the talent is there.”