 Five star quarterback. We got the author of this book. It was on my shelf in our studio, which is getting remodeled This guy is a quarterback guru a college people analyst for Pac-12 network and host of the it factory podcast yogi road What's happening? Thanks for having me We have to do this in person sometime. I feel bad. You're like 11 miles away from me or something We could do this on surfboards. We should we we got to fix this for next time. Well if you want right after this segment My boards are already loaded. I'm literally gonna dip right out to the Venice beach pier and paddle right in immediately when we're done So let's go. That sounds like that sounds like my literal nightmare My actual nightmare would be that situation. There is a beautiful day out today So Yogi Roth knows all things California all things exploring travel Inspiration he likes a good healthy cry and he is gonna fill me in on everything And he's doing for the draft process and if a combine it was last week all the quarterbacks I mean top prospect Alabama's Bryce young his size has been under a microscope I hate to see that so he weighs in it like five foot ten Over 200 pounds from what you have seen what you know from young how much does his size actually matter as he transitions into the big Well for him zero, right? I mean, I remember meeting him at the elite 11 and it's amazing because he Anthony Richardson CJ Stroud all the same class all came together and you want to talk about like different sizes I know we'll talk about all those guys But but totally different and you stand next to Bryce young when he's 17 and you're like, oh wow Like I could play quarterback back back in the day that doesn't quarterbacks all it to be six foot five It seemed like but when you talked him about it a lot of you know him similarly to Russell Wilson or Tyler Murray Any of these guys you talked to you that are under six foot. They all say the same thing is I've played the position at the same size my whole life So everybody wants to talk about throwing lanes and oh can you get it over the overstretched arms of a defensive linemen or all these linebackers coming off the edge They're like I've been doing my whole life and then you go watch him in Alabama and he's been doing it the entire time He's been in Tuscaloosa. He did it at modern day the powerhouse high school. He was at It's not like he's had a drop-off when the competition got larger longer bigger faster So I'm not worried about it and I think when you look at Bryce Kay He is one of one like he's gonna be I think one of those special guys, you know We always compare small guys to Russell Wilson I think or other like the one small guy who's made her and now Kyler Murray or drew me Drew Brees We'll be comparing five ten quarterbacks. I think to Bryce young for the next decade So did you say you you do compare him to Drew Brees? I've also heard, you know Kyler Murray I've heard a short a short Patrick Mahomes. Those are the comparisons. I'm hearing so which NFL player does he compare to in your mind? You know, I'll say this the first day I saw him I remember turning a trend deal for a Joey Roberts at the elite 11 and saying he reminds me of Steph Curry Like he's a true point guard and I think that offenses have changed I talked to a quarterback coach in the league early this morning about all this draft class And I think when you look at what quarterbacks are asked to do It's different than it when it was when I played or let alone ten years ago And I think when you look at Bryce, he can just deal much like Steph point guard boom boom boom Draina d3, right? I think Bryce is boom boom boom down the field and then wow He can just rip your heart out with climbing in the pocket taking hit and still delivering on a dig route or a crossing route So that's my comp I think he's got elements of all of the men that we mentioned But he's different his build is different his feet are different how he gets the ball out is different So again, I think he'll be the guy that we start to compare other players to as his NFL career progresses Love that I immediately excited that there's this human Ted lassoe element to the combines that that you know That that's the way I approach it. I approach it as I feel for these guys And they're being pulled apart and I know it's what they've wanted their entire lives And I right away am drawn towards the polarizing figure always looking for who that person is going to be and that of course is I mean if there was a quarterback MVP award given it would be Anthony Richardson and what he was able to show and put on Such an athletic performance But he's you know, he's the blue cheese He's the cilantro of the combine draft process to either love him or you don't so where do you come out on Richardson? I'm a huge fan of who he is I think there's a commonality among high performers and it's that they've met adversity Welcomed it and found a way to compete to be optimistic through it My psychology would say at the core of resilience is optimism You tap back into Anthony Richardson's life story and you see a guy that Isn't just a big frame and a dramatic athlete who can do a little bit everything, but he's a guy who said to compete his whole life So here's a story for you at elite 11 we asked all the quarterbacks to write an essay Prior to them coming to the finals about when they've met adversity and it's really cool to see what they write Some talk about a high school state championship game Some talk about being the backup quarterback some talk about real life stuff and for Anthony Richardson This is a guy who started playing football at three, but he didn't have much when he was growing up Didn't always have food didn't always have shelter Academically he struggled in eighth grade. You know 1.8 GPA the basketball team said hey You've got to improve from that moment on through the rest of his life. He's never had lower than 3.0 I say all that because I think we look at 444 or the crazy bird or you know Just just the fascinating figure that he is physically and I think you got to tap into the other stuff Like who what is this guy's essence and he's a competitor and not just on the field of play But academically throughout his life throughout his early life throughout his time in Florida Dr. The coaches at Florida they all rave about the type of person he is they call him sometimes the best quarterback A lot of them have ever been around you look at Billy Napier and his pedigree and where he's been and then I just go To reps, you know, I think we always want to judge these guys They have to instantly be successful same thing from high school to college like the book the year reference same thing from college The NFL well, how about a redshirt year, you know, this guy had less than 400 past attempts in college Let's just let him get to the league and clean up some of his mechanics Which will I think be cleaned up when he goes to the right place Finds a coach that can really coach him and get after it because his upside is special we know that physically and The tenor of his mindset to me is is that Ted last so we affect that you're reference of okay This is somebody I want to sign up and roll with Yogi what is the you're saying the right place the right coach. What is the perfect football situation for Richardson? That's a great question. I don't know. I just hope it's healthy I mean part of me would love to see him in Seattle. Just, you know, coach Carroll is the biggest mentor I had in my 20s Yeah, so that'd be fun. I know they just resign. Of course, you know, Smith and have their quarterback But I think it'd be cool to see that and watch him grow in that system under that staff But I'd imagine every quarterback coach, you know, you go one through 32 They'd say man, I'd love to get my hands on him now We know what the CBA and everything does in terms of limiting time with coaches and players But I bet every quarterback coach in any facility is gonna say just let me get started with this young Man, he's thirsty for it. He knows his upside He knows where he's a little bit flawed, but you watch him on film He's also does some you know special things really well and he does some of the basic things really well It's just a consistency thing at times and that to me just comes down for reps at any level of that position I told Chris Collins with he reminds me of Josh Allen all the athleticism the arm the strength But accuracy and mechanics might be of it's something many you know needs to be Worked on and can be worked on if you're in a good position like Josh Allen was of course I mean He's so fascinating like I would take it if I was one of these teams I'm trading up and taking him number one overall over Bryce young because I'm swinging for potential I What he could be is what I would draft not less so much the the sure thing that would be Bryce young Would I be crazy to do that? No, you wouldn't be crazy BK, you know, you just hey you always swing for the fences I figure that that's like a vibe in your life But but I look at this like and this is what I think happens at this position You know on the minor scale in the college football world I live in on the massive scale in the NFL world that you live in daily is we take these Let's just say these three quarterbacks and CJ Stroud Bryce young and Anthony Richardson And we just we start to pick and prod and who do we take? Who's a sure thing who can come in and play right now who needs to develop a little bit more? And I look at all three of them. I'm like you're gonna win like these three guys I believe are going to be faces of franchises for a long time pending the health and we know the situation matters Right. I thought Sam Donald will be that and the Jets weren't necessarily dialed in when he went there in my opinion but I look at this class and these three guys and CJ is gonna lead you to Wins big wins and he's gonna be a pillar for the franchise Bryce same thing Anthony Give him a year or so to your point of developing and the Josh Allen comp He's gonna do the same thing. So I love all these guys I think it just goes to fit what your quarterback room is like where the contracts are situated and how long you want to leave You know lean on certain guys the job security. I'm sure of the head coach and that specific franchise But I'm a fan of them all I don't know who I would pick I have to go to and look at my team and where my strengths are and what we need probably right now before I'd have to make my Well, it sounds like right young is a day one starter and Anthony Richardson may not be is what it what it's sort of what I'm hearing And what I'm gathering but I want to talk about another quarterback this guy out of Kentucky This will love this kid who goes to the combine. He's like I'm gonna Darn to and show off my arm strength and he certainly did his velocity on his passes was clocked at 59 miles per hour The third highest among combine quarterback since the year 2016. So Having a cannon for an arm is amazing. What else does he bring to the table? Well, I'm excited to watch him and his draft prospectus just continue to grow I've talked to some guys in the league and and there's a common theme when it comes to will levis When everybody falls in love with what you said everybody falls in love with the seriousness He has at the position the greatness. He has a believing in his own self right the passion for perseverance Angela duck worth of course to find years ago I think when I look at him the one thing he'll have to continue to show and he will and his pro day and his workouts Is I call it the trajectory two throws, right? So there's the darts There's the home run ball that you see right there But in the nfl I think the throws that continue to impress weekend and week out or those ones where you can layer the ball Right, it's not a b-line. It's not doesn't have a ton of arc But it's kind of that up and down ball up over the line back to the front of the safeties Can you get that ball out up in front of a corner who's squatting in front of a safety, you know In cover two coverage or whatever it may be that that's to me what most quarterback coaches are going to put him through I think it'll do well there He played in a system that was very similar to the rams was a pro style system Everybody I've talked to him whether it was people at penn state or now at his most recent school in kentucky They rave about him He's not I think like those first three guys that we talked about But i'll be really curious because he'll probably the land at a place that's a little healthier And some of those teams in the top 10 draft picks where those other three quarterbacks may go They also this kid has to go in and talk to The team brass and the player personnel people about some of his red flags and I have found at least two What do we make of this The the red flag of him putting mayonnaise. Yes mayo Into coffee and consuming it come on Yeah, you know look you and I are I'd imagine coffee latte connoisseurs That i've never tried so I can't take massive shots against it But for somebody who loves paris and who loves a european cappuccino I I can't I can't imagine walking into a sweet cafe in one of those amazing cities that we love With will levis and allowing him to do that. I have to help him out a little bit We have to help him out a little bit. I just think that's my that's the biggest red flag I saw there was another one with will levis mr. Velocity cannon arm. He eats bananas With the peel Yeah, I mean look I think if that's like costa rica I probably get down with something like that You know or maybe if you grilled it or like did a little something put some seasoning on it You could try it but I'd be curious what the like the the next 12 hours are like like what's the digestive system like With the peel Of the banana and look I'm kind of on a banana connoisseur like our two-year-old every morning wakes up and says Banana banana. So like I'm grabbing bananas every morning, but he's yet to go for the peel I wouldn't recommend it, but I'd be curious for will what the aftermath was like you being around you makes me a better person Because I was ready to eviscerate him for both of these crimes against food But you are so wonderful where you're like, I've never tried it It's fine And I will say because you're so wonderful you made me think about a time that conrad my producer Told me about eating kiwis with the skin on and I made fun of him and said that's not that's disgusting What do you and then I tried it and it's actually delicious and nutritious So maybe if I want to throw 95 miles per hour Then I need to start changing up my dietary situation to his look. We both said stuff. That was really nice Elite 11 is about the coolest thing that exists. You've been with them for so long now and you mentioned cj Stroud So let's get into it. He was an elite 11 kid. That's why you talk about him. That's why you know He was the mvp back in 2019 Uh, can you tell me about his growth from back then being a quarterback in high school to what he looks like and is now Yeah, well, he looked at his growth since he was a kid, right? It's been well documented You know what he had to go through off the field bothering that of going to prison He had to figure out his life. I remember talking to him when he got his elite 11 invite And tears are coming down his face. He was so happy told his mom. I made it I mean, this was not a huge prospect Teams all across the country were not all over him until he came to dallas and competed against Bryce young and the anthony richardsons It's such at the elite 11 finals then all of a sudden phone just blew up I look at him and he made a really good choice in an early age as a teenager He said look I could be a statistic or I can compete to get through this and chase my dream And provide for my family and he's done just that. I mean, he's a serious Dude, he's been a counselor the last couple years at the elite 11 And then you watch him play whether it's the rose bowl or the playoff games or big games in ohio state The dude just deals. I mean physically. He's gifted Mentally, I think he's special He's dramatically driven based on his past and his support systems off the charts like his mom kimberley She's a part of the five star book that you referenced earlier Her advice to other parents let alone to him is just phenomenal Yeah, you see it on the screen of like I love the last line like better days will always come And and again, I go back to resiliency at the core of optimism is resilience That is the definition of all these young men that we talked about and definitely CJ Stroud I know how excited he is to finally live out this dream. I'm so pumped for him I remember sitting literally next to him in cowboys practice facility and ryan day is calling Marcus or a is calling in oregon all these coaches start calling because he's about to win the mvp And he's blown up and he just had such a sense of gratitude as he was going through it And it hasn't changed from that point to Ohio State to becoming this figure that he is and it won't change when he's in top 10 draft pick It's an amazing analysis. I love that. You know these guys I love that you talk about what else they bring to the table because it's something that we know Is important. It is what works. It is why joe borough is joe borough It's why my homes is my homes It's some of those intangible things even though the talent on the field Is what it is and we're going to pick it apart and talk about hand size and all that bs But it's also about what's in here and what's in here and what motivates them And that's something that you've seen so close. So we appreciate you. We love you Quickly can you shout out very quickly in the name of somebody that might not be getting enough love Yeah, how about jake heiner? How about tanner mckay and dorian tobson robinson those are some that stand out for me jake heiner I've all those guys came through the elite 11 heiner can deal I mean he's going to be a guy that won't get drafted in the first or second round But keep an eye on him. He's one. He's gritty. He's tough. He's got all the things Size isn't great in terms of the prototype But I love him tanner mckay is the guy who beat cancer as a high schooler He had to go through a surgery where they thought if they missed by a literal millimeter He would never be able to make the throwing motion with his arm And thankfully the doctor didn't he went on to compete at stanford get his degree there This guy played volleyball hoops big fan ham then dorian his athleticism is getting everybody to lean in So we'll see how he does it is pro day. It's next week. Uh, but those are three guys that I keep an eye on Amazing. Check out the it factory podcast go get bananas for your child and you can always pick up Five star quarterback, which is a great lead. We'll be back after this. We've got stan munson from pff on the show We're gonna get you guys some other headlines and check in on air rogers and with that situation