2016 NFL Draft prospect preview: who to watch Friday September 4th 2015
By Jon Dove
Nov 29, 2014; University Park, PA, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) drops back in the pocket during the third quarter against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium. Michigan State defeated Penn State 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O
Player: Connor Cook, Michigan State
Position: Quarterback
Game Info: Michigan State vs. Western Michigan, Friday September 4th at 7:00pm on ESPNU
Michigan State’s Connor Cook is the first of the top quarterback prospects to take the field this season. He’s squarely in the running to be the first quarterback off the board along with players such as Cal’s Jared Goff, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg and Ohio State’s Cardale Jones.
This game should be a great opportunity for Cook to get his season started on the right track. Michigan State has far more talent than Western Michigan so Cook is expected to have a strong performance. His main goal for this game should be to avoid major mistakes and move the offense.
Cook has as much physical talent as any quarterback eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft but needs to clean up some areas of his game. The biggest thing he needs to work on his the consistency of his footwork. Last year, Cook had a tendency to fade off this throws which impacted his overall accuracy.
If he’s able to show improvement in his game, Cook could find himself in the mix to be a top-10 pick.
Next: Jack Conklin