Utah State quarterback Jordan Love’s matchup on Saturday against LSU will have a monumental impact on his NFL Draft evaluation.
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound signal-caller performed relatively well on a big stage against Michigan State last season, and he looks to build upon an already impressive start to the season heading into Baton Rouge.
Love has seen a few NFL-caliber players in his first four games, but the matchup against LSU is the closest he’ll see to a NFL defense from both a size and speed standpoint.
He gets the ball out quick and can pick apart defenses when he has a clean pocket. Love consistently puts the ball on the numbers in the underneath passing game and places the ball well along the boundary.
He has times where he will stare down one side of the field a little too long, but he generally sees the entire field and can find success when he advances to his 2nd and 3rd read.
Love has a live-arm and can make all the throws necessary at the next level. He’s mechanically sound and can fit the ball into tight windows downfield. He already displays NFL-level ball placement and anticipation when he pushes the ball vertical.
Jordan Love and @usufootball take a deep shot to the end zone for a TOUCHDOWN!
— CBS Sports Network (@CBSSportsNet) September 29, 2019
Rams 14
Aggies 14 pic.twitter.com/ibwRry7nmR
For as good as he is in the pocket, Love doesn’t need things to be perfect to find success.
He’s slippery when the pocket collapses and finds ways to elude pressure and extend plays. Love can deliver at a variety of arm angles and doesn’t need a set platform to deliver with accuracy downfield.
LSU has talent on the front line and will likely be able to out man Utah State’s front line one-one-one, but they are going bring the heat regardless. Expect them to also press heavily at the line-of-scrimmage in order to throw off the timing of the Aggies’ up-tempo passing attack.
Love’s primary responsibility in this game will be taking care of the ball.
He’s had issues with exchanges with his center all season, including two fumbled snaps last week against Colorado State, and the margin for error is thin in this game. Love is prone to trusting his arm a little too much and needs to pick his shots carefully, or else the score could get out of hand.
Utah State doesn’t have a great chance at winning this game, but Love has the opportunity to really elevate himself in NFL Draft conversations if he can keep the game competitive.
A strong, smart performance could make a difference in whether he decides to declare for the 2020 NFL Draft.