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Is DeShone Kizer Overlooked?

By Bobby Norell

Nov 14, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 14, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) throws a pass in the fourth quarter against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Notre Dame Stadium. Notre Dame won 28-7. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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Was DeShone Kizer disrespected by Pro Football Focus’s ranking of college football’s top 101 players?

A few weeks back ProFootballFocus.com ranked the 101 best players in college football. Only two Notre Dame players made the list in offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (#36) and guard Quenton Nelson (#94). (Personally I think Nelson should be higher, but thats a conversation for another time) This speaks to Notre Dame’s ability to churn out quality offensive linemen, but there is much more talent across the board. 

One guy who was left off this list and it kind of baffled me was quarterback DeShone Kizer. Look at the season Kizer had last year as a first year starter and tell me how he’s not one of the top 101 players in college football. Last season he threw for 2,884 yards, 21 touchdowns, completeted 63% of his throws, ran for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns and on top of that led Notre Dame to the verge of a college football playoff birth and a 10-3 record.

Other QB’s who were on this list ahead of Kizer were Baker Mayfield of Oklahoma, Deshaun Watson of Clemson, Mason Rudolph of Oklahoma State, Greg Ward Jr. of Houston, Chad Kelly of Ole Miss, Seth Russell of Baylor, Gunner Kiel of Cincinnati, Josh Rosen of UCLA, Jake Browning of Washington and Brad Kaaya of Miami.

Now I understand Mayfield and Watson because the two are Heisman candidates and had their teams in the CFP last year, but as for the others don’t try and tell me they’re better or more deserving than Kizer.

Kizer showed Irish fans a lot last season. Aside from the pure skill and talent he showed, he also displayed the intangibles. He showed so much poise during the comebacks against Virginia, Clemson and Stanford. He showed so much confidence threading the needle to Will Fuller in the Temple game. Whatever “it” is, Kizer has it.

I’m not saying that Kizer is a perfect player, because there are things he needs to get better at (red zone efficiency). But what I am saying is that if he wins the job this season (and I think he should), it’s only going to get better with him.

Next: Notre Dame vs. Michigan is Coming Back

It could be that Kizer was left off the list because of the uncertainty of the starting quarterback spot, but I’m not buying that. When this list came out Jarrett Stidham was still at Baylor and was expected to compete with Russell for the starting job. Kizer was overlooked and even disrespected a little bit here. Hopefully he can use this as some motivation going into the year and really turn some heads.

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