Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

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Source: Blake Bortles to enter draft


UCF quarterback Blake Bortles will declare for this year's NFL draft, a source confirmed Sunday to ESPN's Joe Schad.

The Orlando Sentinel, citing a source with direct knowledge of Bortles' decision, earlier reported Bortles would forgo his last year of eligibility.

The redshirt junior is expected to make his decision official during a Monday morning announcement.


Bortles is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's draft class.


Scouts Inc. lists Bortles as the second quarterback (behind Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater) and 15th overall prospect.


Bortles passed for 3,581 while leading 12-1 UCF to an American Athletic Conference title and a win in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.


He threw 25 touchdown passes for the second straight year, and he also ran for six touchdowns this season.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10248499/2014-nfl-draft-blake-bortles-ucf-knights-enter-draft

[YardRat]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

Good. Hopefully somebody in the first 8 picks snags him and drops a player closer to us.

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Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

No. Hopefully he falls to #9, the Bills draft him, and we all can stop this EJ Manuel nonsense.

This guy is 6' 4# and 230 lbs. Threw a slew of TD passes the past 2 seasons. Scout. Inc. has him rated as the #2 QB behind Bridgewater.

The problem is he will never fall to Buffalo @ #9.

He is far and away a better QB than EJ Manuel: big, tall, throws TDs and is mobile.

[DraftBoy]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

He may go #1.

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Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

That's the growing talk.

[FinNasty23]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

GO UCF!!!!

Anyone but the Jaguars!!!

[YardRat]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

No. Hopefully he falls to #9, the Bills draft him, and we all can stop this EJ Manuel nonsense.

This guy is 6' 4# and 230 lbs. Threw a slew of TD passes the past 2 seasons. Scout. Inc. has him rated as the #2 QB behind Bridgewater.

The problem is he will never fall to Buffalo @ #9.

He is far and away a better QB than EJ Manuel: big, tall, throws TDs and is mobile.

And then when he has a typical rookie QB season you can start *****ing about needing to spend the #1 pick in 2015 on Winston, and Buffalo can become to QB's what the Detroit Lions were to WR's.

Sounds like a plan to me.

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Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

And then when he has a typical rookie QB season you can start *****ing about needing to spend the #1 pick in 2015 on Winston, and Buffalo can become to QB's what the Detroit Lions were to WR's.

Sounds like a plan to me.

He's not EJ Manuel, Einstein. He has great mechanics. Throws lot of TDs for multiple seasons. You can make spend your time making stupid posts or actually go look at what the 2 did in college. But you will opt for the former because its easier for you.

[Mace]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

Having been through decades of this, my first test of potential future achievement for potential QB's is "does he pass the 'name' test ?

"Blake Bortles." End of story.

Yes, there was a Trent Dilfer once, cannot explain that one but I would point out he really wasn't any good.

I'm not sure why it works this way but it just does.

[YardRat]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

He's not EJ Manuel, Einstein. He has great mechanics. Throws lot of TDs for multiple seasons. You can make spend your time making stupid posts or actually go look at what the 2 did in college. But you will opt for the former because its easier for you.

It would probably be more beneficial to the conversation for you to spend some time researching A)All of the 'can't miss' QB college prospects that failed miserably in the NFL and B)All of the rookie QB's that actually played like rookies their first season.

Only a dumbass would draft a QB in the first round and then turn around and get another one the very next season in the first without giving him a chance to learn the game at this level.

[X-Era]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

It would probably be more beneficial to the conversation for you to spend some time researching A)All of the 'can't miss' QB college prospects that failed miserably in the NFL and B)All of the rookie QB's that actually played like rookies their first season.

Only a dumbass would draft a QB in the first round and then turn around and get another one the very next season in the first without giving him a chance to learn the game at this level.

Exactly. And after only 9 games...

[Mace]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

It would probably be more beneficial to the conversation for you to spend some time researching A)All of the 'can't miss' QB college prospects that failed miserably in the NFL and B)All of the rookie QB's that actually played like rookies their first season.

Only a dumbass would draft a QB in the first round and then turn around and get another one the very next season in the first without giving him a chance to learn the game at this level.

Would be even worse to draft a guy named Cranston O'Houlihansteinbergwicz. There isn't a qb named Cranston O'Houlihansteinbergwicz, but if there was you wouldn't want to draft him no matter what, believe you me.

[FinNasty23]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

As someone who has watched every game of his, he's got everything you could want in a QB. Size, athleticism, arm (not a Mike Vick cannon, but can make all the throws), smarts, work ethic, leadership... and most importantly... cool under pressure and unflappable when things go bad.


His biggest issue is footwork. Footwork, footwork, footwork. It's inconsistent. Definitely making strides at it, noticable from last year to this... but he doesn't always use good footwork and can throw off his back foot... causing some inaccuracies. When he does use good footwork... he's money. Just needs to keep working on it.


He's not Andrew Luck in terms of polish or anything like that... but just from a pure athletic/physical standpoint (size, mobility, toughness to shed tackles, etc)... that's probably the best comparison. Neither have rocket arms, but good enough for all the throws. Luck though was obviously on a different level in terms of polish, reading defenses, etc... so don't think I'm comparing them in that regard. Bortles was only a 2 year starter. He ran more of a prostyle offense in 2012, and more of a spread with some prostyle concepts in 2013.


Overall, he has the highest ceiling of any QB in this class, but isn't quite as polished as Bridgewater. If he goes to a team like Houston where they have a good running game and talent around him to not put a ton on his shoulders super early allowing him to come along slowly... he'd flourish IMO.

If he goes to a team like the Jaguars..... ugh.

[Mace]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

As someone who has watched every game of his, he's got everything you could want in a QB. Size, athleticism, arm (not a Mike Vick cannon, but can make all the throws), smarts, work ethic, leadership... and most importantly... cool under pressure and unflappable when things go bad.


His biggest issue is footwork. Footwork, footwork, footwork. It's inconsistent. Definitely making strides at it, noticable from last year to this... but he doesn't always use good footwork and can throw off his back foot... causing some inaccuracies. When he does use good footwork... he's money. Just needs to keep working on it.


He's not Andrew Luck in terms of polish or anything like that... but just from a pure athletic/physical standpoint (size, mobility, toughness to shed tackles, etc)... that's probably the best comparison. Neither have rocket arms, but good enough for all the throws. Luck though was obviously on a different level in terms of polish, reading defenses, etc... so don't think I'm comparing them in that regard. Bortles was only a 2 year starter. He ran more of a prostyle offense in 2012, and more of a spread with some prostyle concepts in 2013.


Overall, he has the highest ceiling of any QB in this class, but isn't quite as polished as Bridgewater. If he goes to a team like Houston where they have a good running game and talent around him to not put a ton on his shoulders super early allowing him to come along slowly... he'd flourish IMO.

If he goes to a team like the Jaguars..... ugh.

You stop acting up Fin, we'll not take him.

[FinNasty23]

Re: Bortles Declares for 2014 Draft

You stop acting up Fin, we'll not take him.

Lol! He's just obviously one of my favorite players in this draft, so I like to discuss his NFL potential and prospects.