2020 NFL Draft: Jalen Hurts continues to show NFL progression

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts is not considered a top-tier QB prospect in the 2020 NFL Draft, but he’s making strides every week.

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts is on fire in 2019.

The narrative is shifting from Hurts being simply a very good college quarterback to now, how good can he be in the NFL?

Every week that passes by, Hurts looks more and more like the type of player NFL general managers and coaching staffs need to seriously consider, and not just for a flyer draft pick.

Hurts will have chances to show his development against better defenses at some point, but he showed at Alabama that he’s a phenomenal runner, he’s tough, he’s a learner, he’s a great teammate, and he can sling the rock.

Over the past two seasons, I don’t know that any passer has seen a more dramatic turnaround in their narrative as it relates with going from college to the NFL than Hurts.

We saw some of his progress last year when Hurts filled in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa against Georgia and we’re seeing even more of it as he takes the torch in Lincoln Riley’s offense that has been passed on from Baker Mayfield to Kyler Murray and now Hurts.

Look at some of the throws he’s making right now. This is NFL stuff.

We still need more of a sample size from Hurts, but he’s now put together a consistent enough group of games for us to definitively say that he’s one of the hottest 2020 NFL Draft prospects in the country.

Here are his updated stats through four games this season.

• 1,295 yards passing
• 12 TD passes
• 77.6 completion percentage
• 443 yards rushing
• 5 rushing TDs
• 1 interception

How can you not be impressed by what this kid is accomplishing through four games, regardless of the level of competition up to this point?

He’s carving up defenses, reading the field, making tight window throws, making the right decision with the ball, and attacking defenses with poise and just a calm demeanor.

Marcus pretty much covers it right there. Hurts has elevated two of the best programs in all of college football and he’s done it through adversity most guys aren’t willing to endure.

You can’t say enough about Hurts’ mentality and approach through all of this. He willingly sat behind Tagovailoa last year at Alabama and proved he’s not a ‘me first’ kind of guy. He’s obviously an incredible athlete whose abilities were somewhat overshadowed by the immense talent that comes through Tuscaloosa every single year.

Hurts went from what essentially looked like a running back playing QB at Alabama his first two years on campus to a high-level college QB and legitimate NFL prospect, and he really did most of his progression in the last calendar year, at least from what most of us have seen.

Alabama helped him grow, and Lincoln Riley with the Sooners is now making him look like not only a competent quarterback but a guy NFL teams are going to have to seriously look into come 2020.