Quarterback Trey Lance scouting report, 2021 NFL Draft analysis

Quarterback Trey Lance led North Dakota State to another FCS Championship in 2019, drawing NFL interest along the way. Does he have the right stuff to lead an NFL team? 2021 NFL Draft scouting report, including background, film analysis and things he’ll need to improve in 2020.

Even before Carson Wentz entered the NFL in 2016, his alma mater North Dakota State University had been consistently dominant in the world of FCS football. Since 2011, the North Dakota State Bison have won the FCS Championship eight times. Despite all this winning, Wentz is the only player from the school to be drafted in the first round, while just one player from last year’s team was drafted in the most recent draft.

The Bison’s success has been magnified in recent years largely because of Wentz’s success in the NFL. Therefore when you hear about a Bison quarterback throwing zero interceptions in 2019, along with winning an FCS championship for the school (in their first season), thoughts turn to whether that success can be transplanted to the NFL.

Bison quarterback Trey Lance has captured the NFL Draft zeitgeist in recent weeks, as he is projected to be a top pick by many outlets in the 2021 NFL Draft. Some mock drafts even have him being drafted higher than Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields. To leapfrog the expected number two quarterback in 2021 based on one season of starting FCS football is impressive.

But how much of his accomplishments can be accredited to playing against weaker competition in the FCS? How much skill might we be projecting on the young signal-caller because of Wentz’s success? Is it really possible to analyze a quarterback based on one season of great play? Will he even declare for the 2021 NFL Draft? Does he even play the same quarterback style as Wentz does? And if not, is that a good thing?

The answer to these questions needs a bit of nuance. It requires examining Lance’s film, the North Dakota State program as a whole and the nature of FCS football.

In this scouting report, we’ll explore the background of Lance and the North Dakota State Bison’s football program. We’ll analyze his film, breaking down what he does well and what he doesn’t do so well. And finally, we’ll give a list of things Lance needs to improve this season if he wants to be considered a first-rounder in the 2021 NFL Draft.

For the latest draft analysis, make sure to keep checking back with NFL Mocks. We’ll be adding articles all summer long in the lead up to the 2020 College Football season. We’ll be posting scouting reports, draft analysis and of course, the latest mock drafts for the 2021 NFL Draft.