Quarterback Trey Lance scouting report, 2021 NFL Draft analysis

Trey Lance background

For a college quarterback to throw zero interceptions in just his first year starting, there must have been some indication Lance had potential prior to 2019. In retrospect, that potential was there in high school, although not identified as quickly as it should have been. If Lance declares for the 2021 NFL Draft, his time in high school can be seen as the start of that journey.

According to an article from 247Sports, Lance didn’t even play quarterback until ninth grade. He was a three-sport athlete in high school, playing football, baseball and basketball. It was during his sophomore season that he became a starter for the high school football team, securing his love for the game.

Playing for the Marshall Tigers in Minnesota, Lance’s dual-threat skills were on full display. During his senior year, he passed for 1,386 yards and 14 touchdowns, according to Lance’s North Dakota State player biography. Along with his production throwing the ball, Lance rushed for 641 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning 2017 all-state honors along the way. Lance played quarterback and strong safety for his high school football team, giving him a unique understanding of the game.

Despite being ranked by 247Sports as the eighth-best football player out of Minnesota from the 2018 recruiting class, Lance received only one FBS offer from Boise State. But this offer was apparently made late in the recruiting process after Lance had already committed to North Dakota State. What sold him on playing for the Bison was the coaching staff and the prospect of winning championships, according to 247Sports.

It turned out to be a smart move. After sitting behind Stick for a year, Lance got the opportunity to start for the Bison during the 2019 season. The dual-threat quarterback fit in well with the team’s run-heavy offense, that trusted him to take off running if he found a lane, along with designed run plays that took advantage of his 6-foot-3, 221-pound frame.

The success Lance found in his first season starting was truly unexpected and has fuelled speculation he could be a first-rounder in the 2021 NFL Draft. In 2019, Lance far exceeded expectations, putting up exceptional passing and rushing numbers on the way to an undefeated season.

All-in-all, Lance threw for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, with a 66.9 completion percentage on 287 passes, per Fox Sports. He gained 1,100 yards rushing for the Bison, scoring 14 touchdowns on the ground, making him the lead rusher for the team as well. With just two fumbles and zero interceptions all year, Lance was able to be a dynamic passer and rusher who didn’t let the ball get turned over once all season.

How much of this success can we attribute to Lance versus the level of players around him? For that, we must review North Dakota game footage from 2019.