2014 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville

Jan 02, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (5) looks to pass the ball against the Florida Gators during the second half of the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Louisville defeated Florida 33-23. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6’3″

Weight: 220 pounds

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Scouting Report/Player Notes

Dual-threat quarterback prospect who has all the tools to be a top five pick come time for the 2014 or 2015 NFL Draft. Solid size at 6’3″ 220 pounds and has great overall athletic ability. Even as a sophomore last year, he looked like an NFL quarterback. He does a great job of surveying the field, and finding the best play available. Very smart quarterback who is humble off the field. He even told the athletic department at Louisville that he didn’t want any type of Heisman campaign in his name in 2013, but that he would rather have something recognizing the whole team. He exemplifies leadership on and off the field, and is the type of player that NFL scouts are really eager to get their hands on right now.

Very quick release and does a great job of going through his reads and progressions. Makes great decisions with the football and finished last year with a completion percentage above 68 percent, which not many sophomores in the country are able to do. Also finished his sophomore season with 27 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. I think that ratio could improve even more in 2013. This is a kid who has made consistent improvements in his overall game, and is arguably the top overall prospect in the country behind South Carolina’s Jadeveon Clowney.

Really has advanced footwork and anticipation in the pocket. Already has a great feel of what’s going on around him, and took five fewer sacks in 2012 than he did in 2011 despite throwing over 100 more passes. Bridgewater has the look of a top five pick at the quarterback position, and thanks to size and overall room to grow, I think prior to the 2013 season, he grades out as my top overall quarterback prospect, just edging out Tajh Boyd of Clemson. He has a little better size, similar athletic ability, and I think he’s more advanced at this point in the passing game.

In the NFL, Bridgewater could very well be a day one starter, and he could do it coming out after his junior season in 2013.

Career Highlights (via Louisville athletics site)

2012 (So.) 
• Started 12 games, came off the bench in 20-17 win over Rutgers.
• Named the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year and first team all-conference.
• Selected honorable mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly
• Threw for 3,718 yards (third all-time) and 27 touchdowns (tied for fourth)
• Recorded six 300-yard games and two 400-yard contests
• First team All-BIG EAST by ESPN.com and Phil Steele
• Finished eighth in the nation in passing efficiency and 26th in total offense
• Ranked second in the BIG EAST in passing efficiency, total offense and passing yards
• Named the Most Valuable Player of the Sugar Bowl after going 20-of-32 for 266 yards and two touchdowns in a win over third-ranked Florida
• Threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns on 20-of-28 passing with broken wrist and a sprained ankle to help the Cardinals win a BIG EAST title
• Suffered a fractured wristed and an ankle sprain in a triple-overtime loss to Connecticut, threw for 331 yards
• Tossed a career-best five touchdown passes in a win over Temple
• Passed for a career-best 424 yards and three touchdowns on 36-of-49 passing in a loss to Syracuse
• Threw for 416 yards (first time in career) and tossed two touchdowns in a win over Cincinnati.
• Connected with Eli Rogers on 11-yard touchdown pass with 1:35 to play in a win over USF, completing 21-of-25 passes for 256 yards
• Connected with DeVante Parker on career-long 75-yard reception en route to posting second 300-yard (304 yds) game of career.
• Threw for a career-low 85 yards (rainstorm) in a come-from-behind win over Southern Mississippi
• Tossed two touchdowns but was held to 19-of-36 passing for 194 yards in win over FIU
• Completed 23-of-28 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns as Louisville held on to a 39-34 win over North Carolina
• Went 30-of-39 passes for 344 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-7 victory over Missouri State
• Set a single-game school record for completion percentage at 90.5 percent after completing 19-of-21 passes for 232 yards in a win over Kentucky

2011 (Fr.)
• Named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year after throwing for 2,129 yards and 14 scores
• First true freshman to see action at quarterback since Brian Brohm in 2004 and first true freshman to start at quarterback since Stu Stram in 1976
• Owns the school record for passing yards by a freshman after surpassing Chris Redman at USF.
• Completed 64.5 percent of his throws and tossed 12 interceptions
• Passed for a then career-high 274 yards in the Belk Bowl loss to NC State
• Selected a CBSSports.com Freshman All-American, a Sporting News Freshman All-American and a Fox SportsNext 2011 Freshman All-American
• Stepped in for an injured Will Stein against Kentucky and started every game
• Threw for a then career-high three touchdowns in win at USF, finishing 19-for-28 for 241 yards
• Rushed for a career-high two touchdowns at Connecticut
• Went 21-for-27 for 246 yards in an upset win over 25th-ranked West Virginia on the road
• Connected on a 44-yard strike to high school teammate Michaelee Harris on second play from scrimmage in win over Syracuse and found DeVante Parker on a 42-yard touchdown strike two plays later
• Earned first win as a starter versus Rutgers
• Notched first-career rushing touchdown in loss to Marshall
• Came in for injured Will Stein at Kentucky and threw for two touchdowns in win at Commonwealth Stadium
• Made his collegiate debut in the second quarter of the win over Murray State… came in and threw an interception.

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Video Highlights (via YouTube)