Cardale Jones, QB Ohio State: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

The final three games of the 2014 season for Ohio State held some significance. Outside of the obvious of winning the Big Ten championship, defeating Alabama in the first round of the CFB Playoff, and winning the national championship vs. Oregon, the significance of those three games also showcased a true mystery at quarterback in Cardale Jones. The redshirt junior took over the reigns after original starter JT Barrett suffered a season-ending injury against Michigan.

From there, Jones grabbed the baton and sprinted to the finish line as national champion. After the Michigan State loss earlier this season, Jones made it known he was leaving OSU after the season, more than likely to enter his name into the 2016 NFL Draft. With that said, here is my scouting report on the man they call “12 Gauge”.

Mesurables

Height: 6’5

Weight: 250 lbs

Strengths: Big frame at 6’5 250…..Nickname of “12 Gauge” is large in part due to his rocket arm….Shows touch on screens, dumpoffs, short passes….Able to withstand pressure and deliver most if not all throws…..Displays mobility that is respectable enough to enable defenses to be aware of…..Displays plenty of confidence in not only himself but his teammates as well….Possesses the talent to squeeze throws into tight windows with velocity….Keeps a sharp mental clock, makes his reads and will pull down the ball to run if needed…..Tough to bring down for sacks and his size is able to punish tacklers who are not disciplined.

” The final three games of the 2014 season for Ohio State held some significance”

Weaknesses: Every now and then, throws tend to get away from him and he overthrows receivers….Frame is similar to Panthers QB Cam Newton but there is a significant gap in terms of speed/athleticism….Primarily ran plays out of shotgun, NFL scouts will want to observe him under center….Displayed a roller coaster of completion percentages at times during the 2015 season….Lack of experience is his biggest red flag.

Bottom line: The story of Cardale Jones is a unique one. He not only filled in for Barrett over the last three and a half games in 2014, but he also displayed NFL worthy skills while leading the Buckeyes to a conference and national championship. He has a rocket arm, can put the ball on a dime over the shoulder of a wide-out, and truly believes in his ability that he can play this game. However, whether it’s realized or not, his lack of experience is noteworthy. The constant back and forth of starting gigs between Jones and Barrett in 2015 was evidence that he needed work.

Cardale Jones looked great in some games (2014 Big Ten title game vs. Wisconsin, national title game vs. Oregon, 2015 home game vs. Maryland) while other times he’ll leave you befuddled (2015 home game vs. Northern Illinois). Jones has the skills and a few items on his resume that stands out in his favor. However, don’t be surprised to see teams approach Jones with plenty of caution as he is still a mystery at this point.

Home/Big 10