Josh Woodrum, QB, Liberty: 2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Josh Woodrum, a 2011 two-star recruit, started 44 of 46 career games for Liberty. The three-time team captain completed 63.9 percent of his career passes for 10,266 yards, 61 touchdowns and 30 interceptions.

The Flames won 63 percent of the games he started. He possesses very good height and weight for the position with a strong frame and good athletic ability. 

Measureables

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Height: 6’2” 7/8

Weight: 231 lbs

Arm Length: 31-7/8 inches

Hand Size: 9-1/4 inches

Combine Results

40-Yard Dash: 4.80 seconds

10-Yard Split: 1.67 seconds

Vertical Jump: 31 inches

Broad Jump: 9’9”

Three Cone: 6.74 seconds

Short Shuttle: 4.31 seconds

Games Watched

2015: Georgia State, West Virginia, NFLPA Bowl

Strengths

Josh Woodrum possesses good football intelligence as he keeps a mental clock and doesn’t stand in the pocket too long. He remains calm under pressure and avoids the rush by moving around in the pocket.

In an early-season contest against West Virginia, Woodrum faced pressure on almost every pass attempt. As a result, he had to put his navigation skills to work. On this play, he feels pressure and slides to his left while keeping his eyes downfield. He continues his slide away from the rush until his receiver enters the window between two defensive backs. He then fires off an accurate pass on the move right before being taken to the ground. While he’s not much of a running threat, his mobility in the pocket is enough to extend the play.

Woodrum has a quick release and possesses solid play strength to throw accurately with defenders in his face. He’s also physically tough and will continue to stand tall in the pocket after taking numerous hits as a result of very good competitive toughness.

Woodrum is also capable of making NFL-caliber throws. He has very good arm strength and can connect on passes to all levels of the field. Not only does he have the arm strength to throw the ball downfield, but he can also make throws from the hash to the far side of the field.

In the play below, West Virginia is showing blitz and has six defenders on the line of scrimmage. In a five-wide set, Liberty only has five offensive linemen in to block. Rather than audible, Woodrum displays a solid understanding of the play and where his receivers are supposed to be.

Since the Mountaineers aren’t pressing the wideouts, Woodrum knows the timing of the routes won’t be thrown off. Knowing he’s about to get hit, Woodrum takes the snap, and with pure upper-body strength, delivers a pass on target across the field. What makes this play even more impressive is the fact that it resulted in a first down on 3^rd and 12.

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Weaknesses

Woodrum displays solid mechanics with his delivery, but his they need to be cleaned up before he begins to throw. After taking the snap, he holds the ball too low and is susceptible to strip sacks. This was evident against higher-level competition as he fumbled twice in the NFLPA Bowl.

He struggles to read defenses and will throw a couple of ill-advised passes per game due to marginal mental processing skills. Below are two examples of interceptions thrown by Woodrum in which he never saw the defender.

In the first play, the defender diagnoses the screen pass and races down the line of scrimmage to cut of the pass. In the second example, Woodrum locks in on his intended target and is read by the defender in the middle of the field. He’s able to get a hand on the pass and deflect it to his teammate for the interception.

A lack of aggressiveness also comes down to poor decision making. Rather than throw into open windows downfield, he’ll settle for the underneath throws. This is especially true on third down. He completed over 59 percent of his third-down throws, but only 38 percent resulted in a first down. With much smaller windows in the NFL, Woodrum will need to become more comfortable throwing into tight spaces.

Being uncomfortable throwing into tight spaces also plagues his accuracy in the red zone where the field shrinks. Speaking of accuracy, Woodrum’s ball placement is only adequate and does not allow receivers to maximize yards after the catch.

While he can extend plays in the pocket, Woodrum is not a running threat and goes down easily when tackled.

Overall

Overall, Josh Woodrum is a developmental quarterback who possesses the size and arm strength NFL teams desire. He’s not a QB who can read defenses at a high level at this point in his career. Woodrum is at least two to three years away from being able to contribute on an NFL roster, but he’ll be given a chance to work his way up the depth chart.

He may wind up being a late-round pick, but Woodrum may be better of going undrafted so he can choose between multiple suitors and pick the best situation for him to learn behind a quality starter and QB coach.