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Not much of a surprise. IMO Clausen is the best NFL prospect at QB.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft1...ory?id=4721703
Clausen, Tate to enter NFL draft
By Tom Friend
ESPN.com
Jimmy Clausen enrolled at Notre Dame to learn about the NFL. Looks like he's learned enough.
Following the advice of deposed Irish coach Charlie Weis, Clausen has decided to forgo his senior season and enter this April's draft. Rated as perhaps the top quarterback in this year's class, he is believed to be coveted by St. Louis, Cleveland and Washington -- three teams that will conceivably pick in the top five.
“ Coach Weis told me whether he was going to be here or not be here, it was time for me to go. He thought I've improved so much since I came to Notre Dame. So, I'm taking his advice, and I'm going to head out."After the season, in talking to my parents and obviously Coach Weis, I just feel it's the right time," Clausen told ESPN.com on Monday before a scheduled 2 p.m. ET news conference in South Bend. "Coach Weis told me whether he was going to be here or not be here, it was time for me to go. He thought I've improved so much since I came to Notre Dame. So, I'm taking his advice, and I'm going to head out."
” -- Jimmy Clausen
Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate also announced he will enter the draft Monday.
The consensus No. 1 high school recruit in the country three years ago, Clausen chose Notre Dame over USC solely because of Weis' NFL pedigree. Weis -- who tutored both Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe in New England -- assured Clausen he would prepare him best for the pro game, and Clausen rewarded the coach with a spectacular junior season.
He completed 68 percent of his passes, and threw 28 touchdowns with only four interceptions -- three of which were tipped. Weis has told NFL scouts that Clausen "didn't miss a read all year," and particularly raved about his accuracy and personal growth.
As a freshman, coming off elbow surgery, Clausen weighed only 190 pounds and played behind a porous offensive line. He was vilified during that year's 3-9 season, but bounced back as a sop re to lead Notre Dame to its first bowl victory since 1994 (over Hawaii). In the offseason before his junior year, he invited several Irish receivers to his home in Westlake Village, Calif., and the bonding experience paid off. He was picked as a team captain, and ended up throwing 24 of his touchdowns to wide receivers Tate and Michael Floyd.
The Irish slumped to a 6-6 finish, and Clausen was sucker punched by a fan outside of a South Bend bar after a devastating overtime loss to Connecticut. But six days later, he threw for 340 yards and five touchdowns at Stanford, and his ability to persevere is why several general managers, who have requested anonymity, believe he is the most NFL-ready quarterback in this year's draft. They say he's already mastered an NFL offense, has already been subjected to a leaky offensive line and has already been part of a rebuilding process. They like that he played his entire college career on national TV and that he thrived in one of the biggest fishbowls in sports: Notre Dame.
"The scrutiny of being the quarterback at Notre Dame and the head coach at Notre Dame is tough," said Clausen, who is 6-foot-3, 225 pounds. "And I think it'll prepare me really well for the next level."
Clausen's other advantage, according to scouts, is that he's already 22 and has already been away from home to play football -- meaning the transition to the pro lifestyle won't be an issue. The other top-rated quarterbacks in the upcoming draft -- Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Colt McCoy of Texas, to name two -- went to college in their home states.
"I don't think I could've gone to a better place to get prepared to play than under someone like Coach Weis," Clausen said. "The NFL is something I've always wanted to do since I was a little kid growing up. It's just a dream come true, and I'm just having a great time right now.
"It'll probably be just like going from high school to college, but a lot faster than college is. Obviously, being under Coach Weis, being in a pro-style offense, knowing the terminologies, will help me. But the biggest thing will probably be just getting in the playbook and mentally preparing myself to do everything I can to get on the field as quick as I can and help whichever team I go to win."
Not much of a surprise. IMO Clausen is the best NFL prospect at QB.
I agree...and honestly unless Locker declares I don't even think it's close. I think Clausen is twice the prospect Brady Quinn was.
Had his best year this year and will be the 1st QB taken, but won't be the first pick in the overall draft. I don't see him falling past 4 in draft.
I still like Bradford.
Hmm...this reminds me of the Ryan Leaf conversation I had with a friend when he came out...
Idk what the big fuss about Locker is, but I agree that Clausen is a better NFL prospect than Quinn. Quinn woulda been horrible with the line Jimmy had to deal with.
Sorry but I just don't see it. I watched alot of Notre Dame this year, and Clausen did very little to impress me. He was never bad, but never did anything spectacular. He just kind of existed. On top of that he didn't win .
How the do you compare Jimmy Clausen to Ryan Leaf?
Clausen could be good. I really don't know though. He has had a loaded offense this year, so it's going to be different to see him with less weapons. Best thing for him is to sit at least this year and learn. It would be funny if the Browns drafted him.
He had weapons but had a horrible offensive line and had turf toe most of the season.
Not really comparing them. Just saying that people saying someone is a great QB prospect means jack . They have to perform. And comparing someone's college career to Ryan Leaf would be a huge compliment. He threw for over 330 yards a game, broke a then Pac-10 record with 33 TDs and led Washington State to a Rose Bowl victory, along with their first and only Pac-10 le in school history. Just saying you never know what a guy's going to do once he's in the big time.
Clausen didn't accomplish 1/10th of what Ryan Leaf did in college. Not saying that matters much, but at least Leaf did enough in college to warrant some hype. Clausen hasn't done .
OK.....so what you're saying is we don't know how good a QB will be in the NFL until he proves himself in the NFL.....thanks for that important tidbit.
He's done more than other prospects who have gotten unwarranted hype.
Hi Snead.
very true.
What exactly has Jake Locker done Monoslob (
It was warranted last year. Not many people win in the swamp and in baton rouge the same season. This year, not so much.
you're welcome.
not much of anything, but beating USC once is still more than Clausen.What exactly has Jake Locker done Monoslob (
Case Keenum anyone?
LSU hasn't been good since 2007. I'll give him the UF game. he's been bad all this season. Snead is lucky he's not a senior. Or else he would have gotten Brohm'd.
Clausen was actually pretty clutch this year. That defense choked away a lot of late game leads.
28 TD 4 INT...in a pro style offense, yeah he had two great receivers but even when Floyd went down it didnt really effect him. He has the same accuracy as Bradford and Mccoy its just he can actually make NFL throws and has the arm strength. And his arm hasnt been recently operated on.
Bradford is the best QB in this class, and its not even close.
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