Caden has film showing that he can perform at a high level. His height will limit some of his opportunities, but his film will open other doors. There are coaches out there with bad QBs and in desperate situations to save their jobs. They will convince the money people that a kid like Caden is all they need. He's a winner. Then he'll have a choice to make, which he has earned.

NFL offenses are becoming more like college offenses, so there is a place for the shorter, athletic QB in the NFL to the right OC. Bryce Young is a great example, so are Tua, Russell Wilson, Kyler Murray, Dillon Gabriel, the list goes on. Most of those guys were also 2-sport (mainly baseball) athletes in college, sound familiar? I'm not saying CP is an NFL QB, but to Sailorgabe's point, there are plenty of examples, and opportunities will follow.

Also, college football is professional football now. Quarterbacks make more in college than many QBs will on rookie contracts in the NFL.

FBS it's definitely not uncommon. In the NFL it is still pretty uncommon. I mean, a vast majority of NFL QB's are at least 6 ft tall. By definition, that makes those under 6 ft tall uncommon. And while Wilson and Drew Brees have had very good careers, Tua, Young and Gabriel haven't done much yet to convince teams that short QBs are the way to go.

For the record, I was not advocating for short QBs or that all were successful :rofl: I'm with you, give me a taller cat any day of the week back there. However, the opportunities are far greater these days for shorter QBs than they were when Flutie and Warren Moon were playing.

If Pinnick is 6’ 200lbs he is not that small. Is he?
There is a tendency to think the elusive guys are small. Warren Moon was 6’3”

The avg height in the NFL is 6'2. Here are notable players:

1. Bryce Young
2. Russell Wilson
3. Aaron Rogers
4. Kyler Murray
5. Joe Flacco

What I'm saying is size in relation to Caden is not warranted. He is well within the measurables to play FBS or NFL. These are just 5 players off the top of my head who are currently playing in the NFL.

Joe Flacco is 6'-6" and Aaron Rodgers is 6'-2" so I'm not exactly sure what your point is with that list.

Yes, there are QB's at 6'-0" or shorter that play in the NFL. That does not mean it's at all common and you better be really good at other stuff if you're going to succeed at that height.

The avg size of the NFL is 6'2. I put Flacco and Rogers on the list specifically to see if you would highlight them instead of Bryce, Russell, and Joe to prove a point that you are focusing on QB's that fit your narrative.

The overall point is Caden's size is not an issue if he wants to play in FBS or the NFL. Not sure what point you are trying to make, because there a NFL QB's that are smaller than Caden who are doing just fine in the NFL.

Bryce Young and Kyler Murray are hardly doing "just fine" in the NFL, unless you mean they got drafted highly and got paid. Young is 23rd in QB rating out of 33 qualified QBs. Murray, if he qualified, would be 20th. Dillon Gabriel is 31st. Tua is 26th. I mean, credit to them for making it but their lives would be a lot easier if they were 6'-3".

We've got decades of examples that it is an issue being under 6'-0" if you want to play QB at the NFL level. This is not my narrative. This is how the NFL has operated. Look at the top 10 guys this year in QB rating. Only 1 of them is listed at 6'-1" or shorter and that's Jalen Hurts, who is listed at 6'-1" and is one of the most mobile QBs in the league. All NFL teams care about is what helps them win and they all prefer taller QB's. What does that tell you?

For the last time. that does not mean it's impossible for a 5'-11" QB to make it in the NFL. Drew Brees is a HOFer. Russell Wilson has had a great career. I'm sure there are others. It just makes it a lot harder to be successful if you're 5'-11" as opposed to being 6'-3".

FBS you mean. FCS is D1 for everyone except Sac State.

I love Pinnick, but he's still a Freshman. His last four games he has 6 picks and 11 sacks?

Teams have tape on him now, DCs can game plan for him. Recall how Magic torched a few teams, and they adjusted. Still an effective Wildcat QB.

I've noticed that teams have really dialed up the QB pressure in the 2nd half of the season. I don't have evidence to prove it, but Pinnick has been chased from the pocket more often in his last 4 games. He also appears to have around a second less to get rid of the ball. (yes, Sac and MSU d-lines were superior, but overall it looks like teams are sending more guys more often to force him into bad decisions).

MSU also blows up the numbers I cited (including 6 sacks).

Against Sac, which has one of the best pass rushing defense in the big sky, Caden was sacked once. Plough commented on it. He was making his reads and getting the ball out there without scrambling. He’ll need to build on that in the playoffs.

The point is simple, does he have the measurables to play at the FBS or NFL level? Yes. That's it. That's the statement. We agree.

Now move on.

Agree. The game against SAC was his best game by far.

I mean if you want to move the goalposts, sure.

You didn't say why. Guys on the line are 6'4", 6'5", 6'6", plus gear (helmet), so seeing over them, and downfield, is one challenge for shorter QBs.

The kid is Frosh who was quicker with the ball in his decisions. He didn't try to play hero ball. He went through his progressions. He is learning and getting better.

I don't know Sailorgabe, but he is knowledgeable about QB play I can tell you that. We sound like NFL GMs working over these guys, all of us with differing tastes. My #1 criteria if I were in that chair, would be DOES HE WIN? From there, you figure out WHY he wins, then you figure out why he CAN'T win at your level. Then you make the call; is he the right FIT for what we do? At UC Davis, he is a tremendous fit.

We all enjoy watching CP operate it sounds like. We are all frustrated at times by his lack of ball security or a couple of the picks he's thrown. What I have observed over the last couple games is a knack for climbing the pocket; he's working forward with his eyes downfield rather than escaping out the side, which got him into some trouble early. He is not throwing across his body or forcing throws. All signs of growth. Rarely have I been frustrated by his reads or decision making. We can win and win often with him as our QB, but on December 2 of his RS Freshman year, he's not an NFL QB. Can he become one? Absolutely, especially with the growth and development he's showing. He also has elite QB coaching at Davis. They're invested in him. And if he leaves, there are young QBs behind him that we can dissect when their time comes. Go Ags!

Have any of you seen highlights of zxavier Guess on hudl. The first video is actual funny as he makes an amazing cut. He holds the record at his high school for the 100 meter
5'9" 185 i could see him as a RB. If it comes down to speed i doubt many could catch him
Bubble screen look out

He has a lot to learn for sure. To be honest, I don't think he sticks around Davis after this year. No inside info, but I can see him transferring to a bigger program in a couple weeks. I think the QB helm goes to Eason next year.

Looks like Caden finished 2nd in voting after Mercer's QB Braden Atkinson. Bummer, but Atkinson probably deserves it... Kid had a monster statistical year, no FCS losses since he took over in week 2, and he's a true freshman. Bonus: it reflects well on their Aggie OC, Soto.

https://theanalyst.com/articles/jerry-rice-award-mercer-qb-braden-atkinson-2025-fcs-football-freshman-of-year

There's no question that Guess can play, but it's likely not QB at this level IMO, Here we go again, me popping off about QBs... :rofl: I see his measurables as a potential Sam Gbatu comp speed- and quickness-wise. Can he catch? Slot slash kick/punt return man might be his ticket.

Cleelands the next guy up as of right now but who knows what happens after this season.

The Cleeland-Eason competition will be interesting after next season. Expect them both to travel next year with Cleeland heading into spring ball as the #2. Looks like a very healthy situation in the QB room

I personally haven't seen Eason touch a football so I have idea on him. Cleeland from what I saw at UW (and some x/hudle stuff)looks extremely physically capable. Good size 6'2" 220# and looks like he can move around a bit, with a cannon.

Why Eason? HS stats of 1,005 YP and 4 TDs.

Good pedigree?

The type of guy the coaches need to find a way to touch the ball, it sounds like.