2018 Senior Bowl: Meet the QB Who Got People Talking
By Erik Lambert
The 2018 Senior Bowl wasn’t exactly the barn burner fans were hoping for as the South won their third-straight game and fifth of their last six against the North.
Much of this was attributed to two key factors. First was three costly turnovers by the North squad, one of which was returned for a touchdown. The other was the far superior play of the South quarterbacks. This is rather amazing to think about considering none of the names on that squad are considered top draft picks. Baker Mayfield and Josh Allen, the two likely 1st round picks this April, were both suited up for the North.
In the end, it was the exploits of one South QB that turned the game into the 45-16 rout it became. That was Kyle Lauletta out of Richmond. He bombed the North secondary into submission for 198 yards on just 8-for-12 passing with three touchdowns. This was an instance of perfect time for Lauletta. Scouts were already intrigued by him coming into the week thanks to his solid past couple years in school. For him to do that against some of the best talents in the country? It can only be good for his draft stock.
Lauletta has the physical tools for NFL but does he have the processor?
At 6’3″, 215 lbs Lauletta has prototypical size for the NFL. His exploits in Mobile showcased he has plenty of arm strength to make most of the requires throws in a playbook. His past two years at Richmond were lucrative as well. He finished with over 6,500 passing yards including 52 touchdowns and just 20 interceptions. He also ran for an additional five touchdowns, showcasing his ability to make plays with his legs.
It seems he has a quick release and throws accurately too. Some have started to say he’s a lot like emerging 49ers star Jimmy Garoppolo. He too came from a smaller school at Eastern Illinois and quickly proved he could hang with the big boys. He ended up going in the 2nd round. Could the same fate await Lauletta? It might be a bit premature to say so. Though his performance in the game was impressive, he must continue to stack good practices together in the combines and pro days to come.
Still, his talent is getting harder and harder to ignore.