2015 NFL Draft: Saturday Stage Huge for Clint Trickett, Kevin White
Aug 30, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; West Virginia Mountaineers quarterback Clint Trickett (9) throws the ball against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the fourth quarter of the 2014 Chick-fil-a Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
The Saturday college football headlines are being dominated by Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston, the Heisman Trophy winner who is suspended for a big game against Clemson, but former Florida State transfer and West Virginia star Clint Trickett has some actual headlines to write, headlines that deal with the game of football rather than his life off the field.
Trickett and West Virginia are 2-1 on the season and a longshot to beat Oklahoma on Saturday, even on their own field, but he’s got a chance to make himself some money and get a good shot in the NFL if he can come up big against the Sooners.
Armed with an offense that enhances the play of quarterbacks and receivers who are making huge plays, Trickett is a guy that I’m going to have my eye on Saturday. At 6’2″ and just 180 pounds, Trickett doesn’t have the bulk to play QB in the NFL and take the beating that those guys take, but some scouts felt like the only thing keeping him from warranting draft consideration was an improved completion percentage.
He’s delivered results in spades. After completing under 53 percent of his throws a year ago, Trickett has a completion percentage in 2014 of 75.4 percent, and just one interception compared to seven passing touchdowns.
Trickett is making better decisions with the football, but it’s a lot easier when you have a receiver like he does in Kevin White. White is a 6’3″ 210 pound senior with huge mitts who is making big plays all over the place this season.
So far in 2014, the former transfer has 32 catches for 460 yards and has established himself among the best receiver prospects in all of college football this season. White is showing scouts a broad catch radius, ability to make plays after the catch, and phenomenal concentration on the football as well as soft hands.
With Trickett and White, the Mountaineers have a couple of guys that should be imparting a bit of fear into the Sooners’ defense. These guys are not easy to defend, and are lightyears ahead of where they were at this point last year, or even at the end of last year. Two of the most improved offensive prospects in the country and Trickett has the ability to spread the ball all over the field with some of West Virginia’s other offensive skill players.
Like I said, Oklahoma is so good that this might not even be a contest, but it’s in West Virginia and I love what I’ve seen from these guys so far this season. They’re definitely a couple to keep an eye on.