Below is an aggregation of the most notable measurements by position at the NFL Combine, according to Pro Football Focus. That said, the North Carolina quarterback still possesses an NFL scouting report packed with pro potential. After his sensational sophomore season, however, Howells 2021 campaign failed to live up to the high level of expectation. Despite the pessimism of the pundits, there is talent available at the position. and hand size. 6-1 , 220lb (185cm, 99kg) Draft: 5th round, 144th overall of the 2022 NFL draft by the Washington Commanders. Despite a reduced schedule due to the global situation, Howell came up just 55 yards short of his 2019 yardage total. Howell was also invited to the 2022 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Al. They know how good of a teammate I was. Sam Howell was born to parents Duke and Amy Howell on September 16th, 2000 in Waynesville, North Carolina. From now until the 2022 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. Additionally, Howell demonstrates the ability to throw from multiple arm angles. 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. This gunslinger, off-platform throwing style has been a popular trait of QBs who have recently transitioned to the pros, and Howell has the same ability to keep the play alive when it breaks down. Willis also earned some credit off the field when he was spotted doing a random act of kindness for a homeless person. At 23 years old, Pickett would be one of the oldest prospects at his position and the late rise could give some teams caution. Sam Howell has the tools to become a . Predicting when NFL rookie QBs will debut: How soon could Pickett, Corral, others win the starting job? As the NFL Combine is underway, Sporting News will be tracking measurements of top prospects, according to SN's Vinnie Iyer, this week. Who is the heaviest running back? and do not in any way, reflect the 21st century, modern-day policies of the University. The consensus first-round QB has been said to have small hands 8.625 inches is the official measurement; smaller than any 2021 NFL starting quarterback and it has been the subject of . 6-1. Has the arm talent to create on-the-run and make the impressive off-platform throws Hand Size: 9 1/2 inches Commanders quarterback Sam Howell waves to the crowd as he leaves the . Spielman went to Syracuse to watch Liberty QB Malik Willis against the Orange in September and traveled to Nevada to watch QB Carson Strong vs. UNLV. Sam Howell is a 21-year old quarterback who starred at North Carolina for three seasons. Heres an example of Howell extending the play with his legs outside of the pocket where he immediately gets pressure coming off the edge and up the middle, flushing him out where he stiff-arms #21 Marvin Wilson as he runs to the sideline and gets off the pass while getting shoved out of bounds to Newsome who makes the diving catch near the line to gain. Listen Now. Pickett has historically small hands? Arm Length: 31 1/4 inches . section: | slug: 2022-nfl-scouting-combine-malik-willis-desmond-ridder-sam-howell-among-quarterback-winners-and-losers | sport: football | route: article_single_special | I've used Senior Bowl data for the current crop and unofficial information on the players that were not in attendance, like Matt Corral. 2 quarterback in his first 2022 NFL Draft Big Board, Projecting where Pickett, Willis & 10 others will go. Has impressive arm strength for his size, having the ball jump off his hand on deep shots 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. (+), Steelers Grades vs. Carson Strong, Nevada:Strong's strengths are his command of the game pre-snap and his ability to work through progressions. While his last season was disappointing compared to expectations, Howells scouting report shows that hes still very much a player in this 2022 NFL Draft quarterback class. UNC lost 38-21 to South Carolina on Thursday in what may have been Sam Howell's last collegiate game. 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. News, notes and nuggets from NFL Network coverage of Day One of the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis: LIMITED VISIBILITY: Notre Dame's Jack Coan and Kent State's Dustin Crum were the only quarterbacks who ran the 40-yard dash in the first group. He finished with 169 passing yards on 11 completions, 35 rushing yards, and one rushing touchdown. Through 10 games, Pickett has thrown for 3,517 yards, 32 touchdowns and four interceptions. 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. Has a sturdy frame and can be a physical runner when asked to take off, willing to go through defenders to pick up extra yardage As a freshman, Howell had six games with over 300 passing yards, totaling 3,641 yards. It is the first step in the process of evaluating these players and their 2022 NFL Draft stock. In this years bowl game against South Carolina, Howell takes the snap and drops back to pass, releasing the ball from the opposite hash and drives it to the opposite sideline to his receiver who reaches out to make the toe tap grab in-bounds for the first down. Position: QB. Furthermore, Howell can weaponize the plus elements of his arm talent when tasked with working outside of the pocket. Originally committed to Florida State, but flipped his commitment to UNC In a league that selects players, specifically quarterbacks, based on physical tools, Howell still managed to last until the 144th overall pick in an overall weak quarterback draft. During the 2015 season, he threw for 3,586 passing yards and 35 touchdowns while adding another 6 scores on the ground. Per Eric Edholm of Yahoo, Picketts hand size is 8 1/4 inches, which would tie the smallest ever mentioned at the combine. . 40-yard dash: DNP Bench . However, statistics dont tell the full story. Howell's passing numbers regressed, but he rushed for 828 yards and 11 touchdowns. The minimum threshold for a quarterbacks hand size has been perceived to be nine inches. Arguably the best performance for any offensive player on the day went to Sam Howell. Sam Howell, North Carolina: . Howells touch and ball placement on his deep throws are quite impressive, being able to drop into the bucket over-the-shoulder to his receiver #15 Beau Corrales in-stride like we see on this touchdown throw against Duke his freshman year. Picketts arm strength is adequate but its not a strength. Howell started the season as a leading contender for the QB1 of the 2022 NFL Draft class. Expect Howell to go somewhere in the middle of Round One to early Round Two where he can sit initially and play look to start later on or in Year Two, Depot Draft Grade: 8.6 Year One Quality Starter, Games Watched: at Florida St. (2020), vs Texas A&M (2020), at Virginia Tech (2021), vs Wake Forest (2021), vs South Carolina (2021), at Notre Dame (2021). Weight: 221 pounds Sam Howell is a 21-year old quarterback who starred at North Carolina for three seasons. Howell also needs to demonstrate consistency in relation to accuracy. Moreover, his 38 passing touchdowns in 2019 set an FBS record for passes by a true freshman. Watch him take the snap here against Texas A&M at his own 20yd line and roll out to his left to evade pressure, setting his feet and delivering the ball nearly to the opposite 25yd line to his receiver in-stride for the walk-in TD. Not a real elusive quarterback who can be relied on to pick up yardage with his legs like he did in 2021. Howell was getting sacked, and he just threw the ball up for grabs and it got intercepted. Desmond Ridder Hand Size. He will try and fit balls into places he has no reason to throw to, risking the turnover like we see here against Notre Dame where he tries to drop the ball over the shoulder of his intended target but doesnt see the safety working his way over from center field, jumping in-front of the pass for the interception and taking it back the other way. All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Sam Howell 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. This year, one of the main focuses has been on Pitt quarterback Kenny Pickett. 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. He has a collection of more than 100 formal shoes and his wife likes his collection.Sam Howell loves to buy new shoes every month when he has some time to go shopping.. Howell doesn't have elite athleticism and he struggled with decision-making in his final season in Chapel Hill. Sam Howell trying to get back on track. Sam Howell scouting report. That took the ball out of the hands of his best player, Howell. And maybe, in that environment, Howell can show the talent that made him such a valuable commodity early in his college career. Nonetheless, Howell has a scouting report worthy of serious consideration in the early part of the 2022 NFL Draft. He did just that as a freshman, taking the reins of coach Mack Brown's offense. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Waynesville, North Carolina, United States, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Buy Tar Heels Tickets. While the offense does limit Howells growth and ability to get a true feel for who Howell is as a prospect, there are positives to his game. They have a combined 8.6% drop rate. All four of those players were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. That is up for debate, but among NFL decision-makers it will be a major talking point. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. Consensus four-star prospect and No. Howell is an especially interesting case. When the Washington Commanders selected Howell, the choice was universally praised around the league. Delivers deep throws with speed and throws strikes down the field. Come Get Me: Jordan Addison Sends Clear Message to Steelers, Steelers Draft Profile: Miami CB Tyrique Stevenson Would Love a Reunion with George Pickens, Antonio Brown Set to Become Part of AFL Teams Ownership Group, Steelers Draft Profile: Wisconsin LB Nick Herbig Looking to Follow Mentor T.J. Watts Path to NFL. Howell was listed as a four-star quarterback by 247 Sports and ranked as the No. In the offseason, I will be writing up full profiles of the top players the Vikings should target. 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. August 28, 2022 11:06 am ET. and that the Steelers aren't always going to show their hand. He currently sits as the QB4 on our Consensus Top 300 Big Board, but theres little to split this group. Sources: Heinicke starts, Howell to play for Wash. #7 Sam Howell North Carolina 6'1 225 (5-7 round league grade) Although his once-revered NFL Draft profile took somewhat of a hit this year, a 32-team attendance at the UNC Pro Day demonstrated that Howell should still garner plenty of attention in the 2022 NFL Draft. QBs, 40 times & Cam's little brother. That development adds significant value to his 2022 NFL Draft stock. With the opportunity to play in an exciting offense and stay close to his father, Howell flipped his commitment to UNC, giving Brown the first recruit of his second stint with the Tar Heels. Thick, stocky build carrying over 220 pounds on a 6-foot-1 frame. He received offers from over 30 programs, but in April 2018, Howell committed to Florida State ahead of his senior season. Sign up for the Vikings Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. These four QBs will at least be in the discussion for QB1 in the 2022 NFL Draft. Howells journey to the NFL Draft began as a hyper-productive high school quarterback in Indian Trail, North Carolina. As you noticed in the clip above, Howell is extremely dense for his size, being able to absorb contact and bounce off tackles like you would see from a running back. When work on the field began, the Cincinnati product continued to look impressive. He certainly showed the arm strength capable of pushing the ball down the field. Does a good job keeping his eyes downfield when he senses pressure as a passer Howell, on the other hand, . Howell was the sixth quarterback taken in a quarterback-light draft where . Senses pressure and steps up to avoid defenders. School: North Carolina. 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 improved his completion percentage by 6.7 points and ranked fourth in the country in passing yards, according to ESPN. . He ranks fifth in total touchdowns (111), eighth in total offense (11,292 yards), fifth in . 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. For reference, Daunte Culpepper was consistently criticized for having small hands. These players could be potential top 10 picks, all the way down to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Picketts age and hand size will presumably be criticized leading up to the NFL draft. Hand Size: 10 inches Notre Dame's Jack Coan is another that had a solid outing. I think Jake Fromm gave us a drop in the draft partially because of his hand size. QB-ONLY MOCK DRAFT:Projecting where Pickett, Willis & 10 others will go. Maybe not All-Pro talent, but players like Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder and Sam Howell have traits that franchises no doubt find desirable. He added 59 yards on the ground, including a 32-yard . I do think that his upside as a passer can be greater than Mayfield coming out, and he showed this season that he worked on his weak points and made the most of a bad situation without his top talent available. Wide receivers Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown were two of the most dynamic playmakers in the ACC. Raiders: Cam Heyward Heating Up; Kazee, Spillane Get Bigger Roles (+), Analysis: One Big Thing Thats Missing from Steelers Run Defense, Steelers Grades vs. By Jonathan M. Alexander. Previously, he showcased enough athletic ability to evade pressure in the pocket and extend plays. Howell: Slide 'stressful,' but glad to land in D.C. NFL Combine measurements 2022: Hand size, height, weight & more for Kenny Pickett, other notables, Why Pitt QB's measurements at combine shouldn't affect NFL Draft stock. 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 Military Bowl MVP (2019). Whats on Tap for Thursday at NFL Combine? From a weight standpoint, Howell is well-built, a factor that makes him tough to bring down as he can absorb hits effectively while still standing on his feet. And only 42 total wide receivers with 8.5-inch or smaller hands have caught passes in the same span. January 8, 2023 at 10:30 p.m. EST. When the California native finally takes the field for talent evaluators, it will be just him at his Pro Day. Edward Sutelan is a content producer at The Sporting News. He often fails to read the entire field, locking onto one target and failing to progress beyond there. 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. Carson Strong Hand Size. The mindset and effort you love to see in your quarterback. But as one recent Super Bowl-bound quarterback showed, hand size isn't everything. Hand Size: 9 1/8 inches Removed from some of the mitigating circumstances that hobbled his season, hes been able to showcase some of the next-level potential that he possesses. 0:27. Kenny Pickett of Pittsburgh, Desmond Ridder of Cincinnati, Malik Willis of Liberty and Matt Corral of Ole Miss are the quarterbacks who have been picked ahead . Pro Comparison. Combine - While Sam Howell didn't test at the Combine, most measurements aren't important for QBs. . Howell went to complete his true freshman season with 234 out of 388 attempts for 3,347 yards and 35 touchdowns, including 7 interceptions for the regular season. Named 2018 North Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year following his senior year He has potential in a vertical offense, though you shouldnt put Howell in a system with a lot of designed quarterback runs. Pro Football Focus' Mike Renner tells the PM Team that according to their database, Pickett has the smallest hand "by a half inch.". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Last season, he completed 23 of 71 such passes for 838 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions. A recent Steelers rumor suggests Pittsburgh would rather have quarterback Sam Howell over Kenny Pickett in the 2022 NFL Draft. 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. 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. The minimum threshold for a quarterbacks hand size has been perceived to be nine inches. Height: 6-foot One of the more interesting discussions of the 2022 NFL preseason has been how former North Carolina and current Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell lasted until the first overall pick in the fifth round of this draft. 12 overall prospect and No. Hand Size: 9 & 1/8 In. Steelers.com. Not only did Howelll throw for over 13,000 yards and 145 touchdowns, he added for 3,621 yards and 60 touchdowns on the ground. Has good speed and mobility out of the pocket, being able to create out of structure These are all important questions that are finalized as athletes prepare to show off their skills to scouts. The Washington Commanders picked him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the No. Feb 02, 2022 at 08:59 AM. The Washington Commanders selected quarterback Sam Howell in the fifth round (No. Sam Howell. I'd do anything for my team, Howell said. Sam Howell is a true sophomore from North Carolina who has shocked since he won the job his freshman year. Wingspan: 72 3/4 inches, Height: 6-foot Much like his sophomore season, Howell received public praise for his junior campaign, where he had another record-breaking series, garnering him the speculation about his entrance to NFL Draft. Throwing to the opposite hash is one of the most difficult passes to make for a quarterback, and Howell puts it on a rope where only his intended target could make the play. Meanwhile, Mack Brown had returned for his second tenure at North Carolina. While he didnt suffer the complete and utter collapse of contemporary Spencer Rattler, a difficult 2021 season has clouded his standing, which is truly saying something in this murkiest of quarterback classes. Matt Corral, Ole Miss:For the second time in as many months, all of the perceived top quarterbacks, except Corral were side-by-side performing in drills. He will need a coaching staff willing to give him time to learn and grow. 1 overall favorite to likely Day 2 pick in 2022 NFL Draft, TSN's Vinnie Iyer has him going No. He'll likely have lower expectations, which will allow him to develop away from the spotlight. What is the reason for the slide? At best - Drew Brees (with mobility) At worst - Baker Mayfield Sam Howell was selected in the 5th round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Falcons: TEs Dominate, DL Destroyed (+), Steelers Re-Sign OLB Jamir Jones for 2023, Steelers Re-Sign Long Snapper Christian Kuntz, Steelers Bring Back OLB Quincy Roche for 2023, Steelers Sign Penn State Alum Dan Chisena, Titans Sign OL John Leglue from Steelers Practice Squad. Keith Srakocic/AP. For example, the No. Here is another play highlighting the arm talent of Howell. While Howell has impressive arm talent, he often relies on said talent a little too much, having too much faith making the difficult throws instead of taking what is given to him. There's a lot to like about Howell despite his uneven 2021 season. Weight: 217 pounds Started 12 games as a junior, completing 217 of 347 passes (62.5%) for 3056 yards and 24 TDs with nine INTs, while throwing in 827 yards rushing and 11 scores As the 2022 Senior Bowl practice week kicks off, one of the key things to watch is measurements for all players. General managers, like players, have enormous expectations to succeed. . 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. The trajectory on Howell's deep passes is impressive. Howell finished the season as a second-team All-ACC honoree and Manning Award finalist, as well as on 2022 NFL Draft watch lists as a potential first-round pick. He rushes for 828 . 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 . Howell had an interesting recruitment. Hand Size: 9 3/4 inches 0:43. January 8, 2023 6:31 pm ET. The Case for Anthony Richardson To Be the No.