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Louisville Football: Athlon Sports Ranks Puma Pass as the 10th best ACC QB

By Jacob Lane

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Louisville football has a new quarterback for the first time in three seasons, and according to Athlon Sports, he’s the 10th best in the ACC. 

Athlon Sports released their college football starting quarterback rankings for the upcoming 2018-19 season today. With spring ball wrapped up for all programs across the country, the popular media outlet decided to rank college football’s (projected) starting quarterbacks from 130 to 1.

Just like every year several big time names have moved on to the professional ranks, including Louisville’s own Lamar Jackson. So I was curious of where Puma Pass would rank with no one really having much film to watch on the redshirt sophomore.

According to Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports, the rankings were put together by using factors such as career stats, having the starting position locked down, the potential to play at the next level, recruiting background (rankings, etc.) and talent.

After scouring through the first fifty names, starting at 130 and working my way down, I was shocked to see Puma ranked below numerous other ACC quarterbacks. I finally came across Jawon “Puma” Pass. His ranking…. #63. Making him the 10th best ACC quarterback.

Let’s discuss.

First things first, it’s worth noting that trying to rank a player who has never started a college football game compared to numerous others who have is beyond trick, a business that I want no part of myself.

Fans who read these rankings can easily overact by getting upset, getting overly optimistic or pessimistic, or maybe even get their hopes up a little too high on what can be expected from that player.

We all know that Puma Pass was at one time a huge recruit who played in the prestigious Army-All American game, while holding offers from just about every single blue blood program in the country. The recruiting battle went down to the very end when Pass chose the Cards over programs closer to his hometown, including Alabama and Auburn. Both of whom recruited him extremely hard.

Since joining the program, Pass has thrown the ball just 23 times, getting fans more and more excited for the future with each pass. In six appearances last season, Pass threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns in mop up duty for Lamar Jackson.

During the winter and leading up to spring ball, Pass was praised by everyone from former teammate Lamar Jackson, who told Puma that he now had the keys to the Cards offense, to Bobby Petrino and the Louisville coaching staff as well as his current teammates.

Athlon took all of that into consideration as well as his recruiting battle and performance on the field last season and had this to say;

"“Lamar Jackson leaves big shoes to fill, but Louisville should be fine at quarterback. Pass – a four-star recruit in the 2016 signing class – is ready to step in as the No. 1 quarterback for coach Bobby Petrino. Pass red shirted in 2016 and played in six contests last year, throwing for 238 yards and two scores on 23 attempts. The Georgia native won’t be as prolific as Jackson was on the ground, but Pass is more than capable of making plays outside of the pocket. With a big-time arm and a lot of raw talent, Pass will be a breakout candidate for 2018.”"

What struck me the most was Pass’ ranking compared to other ACC quarterbacks. In this list there were 9 quarterbacks from the ACC alone who ranked higher.

  1. (13) – Ryan Finley – North Carolina State
  2. (19) – Josh Jackson – Virginia Tech
  3. (20) – Kelly Bryant – Clemson
  4. (23) – Eric Dungey – Syracuse
  5. (30) – James Blackman – Florida State
  6. (38) – Daniel Jones – Duke
  7. (39) – Malik Rosier – Miami
  8. (40) – TaQuon Marshall – Georgia Tech
  9. (62) – Kenny Pickett – Pittsburgh

First of all, to put a Georgia Tech quarterback anywhere close to the 40th best starting QB in the country is laughable IMO. Last season Marshall completed 37.1% of his passes, throwing 116 times. I find that to be more than insulting.

Finley, Jackson, Bryant, Dungey, Jones, Rosier, and Blackman to some extent are all experienced ACC quarterbacks, therefore should be ranked accordingly. I personally don’t believe Blackman will win the FSU job, as DeOndre Francois returns after missing last season due to an injury suffered in the teams season opener. If he can get his legal issues worked out, I believe he becomes the second or third best QB in the ACC.

If not, I personally believe Pass is likely to be a better all around QB than Blackman. Though he started in 11 games last season, playing average at best, Pass has the better receiving core around him as well as a better offensive line. Though Blackman will be supported by much stronger run game that features star sophomore Cam Akers, I do believe Pass will have the better season. Ranking Blackman at 5th overall in the ACC (30th overall in the country) doesn’t sit right with me.

Ranking Kenny Pickett above Pass is also another decision I don’t quite understand. Pittsburgh was horrible last season, and though they are expected to bounce back and be much better this season, Pickett has never started a game at QB. Appearing in four games last year, Pickett looked like a future ACC starter, throwing for 509 yards and touchdown. But in his first year starting at Pitt is he really better than Puma Pass? Unlikely.

The ranking are all subjective, and at this point are nothing more than projections. However, I feel like Pass has been completely overlooked. (Surprise, surprise). Yes, he has big shoes to fill following behind one of the best college football players of all time, but plenty of other big time recruits with hype have followed up stars who left for the NFL and have succeeded. Look no further than Deondre Francois.

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With Pass having familiarity with the Louisville offense after being in the program now for three years, and ability to throw the football at a high level, are both huge reasons that Pass should be ranked much higher. While he won’t be able to break off huge plays with his legs like Louisville has become accustomed to, Pass’ ability to throw the ball deep and over the middle of the field should help Pass become a national name this season.

Not to mention the talent that the redshirt sophomore has around him for his first season. Louisville returns their top three leading receivers, including Dez “Sixpatrick”, Jaylen Smith, and Seth Dawkins. While also bringing back capable sophomore’s Corey Reed and Josh Johnson, and newcomers Justin Marshall and TuTu Atwell.

Also Louisville should have one of the most experienced offensive lines in the ACC, as they return star sophomore Mekhi Becton, a potential top 10 pick in the 2020 draft, along with Lukyas McNeil, Cole Bentley, Robbie Bell, and Kenny Thomas.

Pass certainly looked the part in his first “showing” as the starting QB in the annual UofL Spring Game, leading the red team to a big 42-13 victory, which included hitting Dez Fitzpatrick eight times for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Pass started slow in that game, looking like a first time starter, but finished with 342 total yards and three touchdowns.

Next: Three Reasons Bobby Petrino Should be on the Hot Seat

The Cards offense will look different as Pass takes over, but by the time the season goes along and the offense gets more experienced, I fully expect Pass to be one of the best QB’s in the ACC.

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