Former USU QB Jordan Love Compared To Super Bowl Quarterbacks At Senior Bowl
Jan 22, 2020, 6:09 PM | Updated: 6:11 pm
Utah State Aggies quarterback Jordan Love (10) looks to make a throw during the second half of an NCAA football game at Maverik Stadium in Logan on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. The Brigham Young Cougars took back the wagon wheel in a dominant 42-14 victory over the Utah State Aggies. Courtesy of Deseret News.
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MOBILE, Ala. – Former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love was compared to the quarterbacks who led their teams to Super Bowl LIV.
Love was likened to San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo and Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes during the second of the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Wednesday, January 22.
“He’s intriguing,” said ESPN’s Todd McShay. “If you’re a quarterback coach, if you’re an offensive coordinator in the NFL, you’re looking at him saying ‘we could get him later in the draft, maybe as the fourth quarterback and wind up getting an absolute steal, like a Jimmy Garoppolo.”
Garoppolo was selected by the New England Patriots during the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He won two Super Bowls as Tom Brady’s backup in New England before being traded to the 49ers in 2017.
The Niners QB was picked for the 2014 Senior Bowl after he was named the FCS player of the year. Garoppolo threw for 5,050 yards and 53 touchdowns during the 2013 season.
More from the @espn crew on @jordan3love, this time drawing comparisons to @PatrickMahomes.
📹: @espn pic.twitter.com/C1YbfI4AP7
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 22, 2020
“He’s so talented but he’s inconsistent and it’s the same thing you see on tape. The only consistent part of his game is how inconsistent he is with his accuracy. His decision making and his accuracy have got to improve. Those are the two most important aspects of the quarterback position,” continued McShay. “A lot of people said the same thing about Patrick Mahomes coming out of college out of Texas Tech and we’ve seen what he’s been able to do. ”
Mahomes was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was named the NFL MVP during his first season as the Chiefs’ starting QB in 2018. Mahomes came to the league after he was the FBS passing yards leader in 2016 at Texas Tech.
Garoppolo and Mahomes will play for the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIV on Sunday, February 2.
NFL Potential
Love announced his decision to skip his senior season with the Aggies and enter the 2020 NFL Draft in early December 2019.
The former Aggie QB entered the 2019 season with high-draft pick potential after a stellar sophomore season.
In 2018, Love threw for 3,567 yards, 32 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions.
A rocky following year in Logan put doubt into where Love will land in April’s draft.
During his junior season at Utah State, Love threw for 3,402 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions.
Senior Bowl Performance
A week after his announcement to leave school early, Love was invited to attend the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.
The Senior Bowl is an event featuring college football seniors and early entrants of the NFL Draft. The event is operated by executive director Jim Nagy who is also an ESPN NFL Draft Analyst and was an NFL scout for 18 years.
Nagy spoke to ESPN about what a good performance at the Senior Bowl could do for Love’s draft stock.
“I think Jordan with a big week down here could get himself back in that first-round conversation,” said Nagy.
It’s the offseason, but the #CFBPod rolls on! This week @KNegandhiESPN is joined by @JimNagy_SB & @Ivan_Maisel
➡️The @seniorbowl invite process
➡️Where LSU stands among the modern-era greats
➡️Keep at eye on @USUFootball’s @jordan3love 👇LISTEN🔊 https://t.co/NCy9VNOMj2 pic.twitter.com/JXhnWmJx7f
— ESPN Podcasts (@espnpodcasts) January 20, 2020
During the event, players spend time working on their skills with NFL coaches.
Last season, Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan coached at the event.
This season, coaches from the Detriot Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals were named to the event.
Former Super Bowl-winning coordinator and current Lions OC Darrell Bevell spoke to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero about what he’s seen from Love at the Senior Bowl.
“He had a little bit of a hot and cold day yesterday,” said Bevell of Love’s first day at the Senior Bowl. “Some really nice throws and I think it’s when he’s under rhythm.”
Some great insight here from #Lions OC Darrell Bevell on the challenges of playing QB at the Senior Bowl and what he's seen from Utah State's Jordan Love. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/nThVSkTGLX
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 22, 2020
Love will participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl game on Saturday, January 25 at 12:30 p.m. (MDT). The game will broadcast on NFL Network.
