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    Home » Not just the QB, but the talent around him
    University of Washington

    Not just the QB, but the talent around him

    Steve RudmanBy Steve RudmanDecember 27, 2010Updated:October 4, 20128 Comments4 Mins Read
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    Jake Locker has not played with the quality of teammates that many of his predecessors did (Drew McKenzie/Sportspress Northwest)

    No University of Washington quarterback of recent vintage has been asked to do more, and been surrounded with less, than Jake Locker, who plays his final college football game Thursday night in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

    Since the Ferndale senior first stepped on the Washington campus in 2007, he has played with only two players deemed good enough — so far — to warrant selection in the National Football League draft (linebacker Mason Foster could hike Locker’s total of NFL-drafted teammates to three).

    Such a paucity of surrounding talent, elaborated upon by Sportspress Northwest’s Todd Dybas elsewhere in Pressing The Point, is why Tyrone Willingham was ousted, why Steve Sarkisian was hired, and why Locker has often endured criticism for failing to produce better team results. But one player, even as gifted as Locker, can do only so much when the talent around him is in the bottom tier of the conference.

    When Chris Chandler quarterbacked the Huskies in the mid-to-late 80s, his teammates included 18 individuals (not counting himself) who would go on to be drafted, and 10 players who made first-team All-Pac-10.  The 18 included three No. 1 picks (DT Ron Holmes, LB Joe Kelly and DE Reggie Rogers), two No. 2s and four No. 3s. Again, Locker has played with two NFL draft pick, both of whom were selected in the third round.

    Steve Pelluer (1982-84) found himself surrounded with 16 future NFL draft choices and 11 All-Pac-10 performers, the biggest reason why the UW teams he directed went 28-7-0 while the UW went 14-24-0 in games Locker quarterbacked and 0-8 in games he didn’t.

    The chart breaks down all UW starting quarterbacks since 1975, and ranks them according to the number of draft choices with whom they played. Note that while Locker has played with only two in four years, Tom Porras played with six in his only season as a starter, 1978.

    Player Career Record Draft Picks 1st-Team All-Pac-10 Notable teammates
    Chris Chandler 1985-87 22-12-1 18 10 Joe Kelly,  Reggie Rogers,  Kevin Gogan
    Steve Pelluer 1981-83 28-8-0 16 11 Ray Horton,  Paul Skansi,  Vince Newsome
    Brock Huard 1996-98 25-13-0 15 15 Corey Dillon,  Cam Cleeland,  Olin Kruetz
    Warren Moon 1975-77 21-13-0 13 8 Blair Bush,  Michael Jackson,  Nesby Glasgow
    Tom Flick 1979-80 19-5-0 13 8 Doug Martin,  Curt Marsh,  Mark Lee
    Hugh Millen 1984-85 18-6-0 11 6 Ron Holmes, Joe Kelly,  Vestee Jackson
    Cary Conklin 1988-89 14-9-0 11 2 Mike Zandofsky,  Bern Brostek,  Dennis Brown
    Mark Brunell 1990, ’92 19-5-0 11 11 Lincoln Kennedy,  Steve Emtman,  Dana Hall
    Billy Joe Hobert 1991 12-0-0 11 7 Steve Emtman,  Dana Hall,  Aaron Pierce
    Damon Huard 1993-95 21-12-1 9 10 N. Kaufman,  Lawyer Milloy,  Mark Bruener
    M. Tuiasosopo 1999-00 18-6-0 7 5 Joe Jarzynka,  Elliott Silvers,  Larry Triplett
    Cody Pickett 2001-03 21-16-0 7 4 Reggie Williams,  Jerramy Stevens,  Larry Triplett
    Tom Porras 1978 7-4-0 6 5 Jeff Toews,  Michael Jackson,  Nesby Glasgow
    Jake Locker 2007-10 14-24-0 2 1 M. Foster,  J. Kearse,  D. Te’o-Nesheim
    Isaiah Stanback 2005-06 7-16-0 1 1 Louis Rankin,  Marcel Reese,  Joe Toledo
    Casey Paus 2004 1-10-0 0 0 S. Shackelford,  Kenny James,  C. Frederick
    Ronnie Fouch 2008 0-12-0* 0 0 D’Andre Goodwin,  Mason Foster,  Nate Williams

    During the 18-year tenure of Don James (1975-92), 109 Huskies were selected in the NFL draft, including 10 in the first round. In the past 17 years (since James resigned), only 43 Huskies have been taken in the draft, four in the first round.
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    8 Comments

    1. oliner on December 28, 2010 3:56 pm

      Infidel’s (above) comments are outrageous. It always gets me when people think they have some transitive property of inequality for talent measures. Jake exudes talent – and, just as important – he exudes character. To me, he’s been a bright spot for all the time he’s spent at Washington. I fervently hope the Seahawks DO draft him.
      I hope Sark does not discount intelligence and acceleration in his recruting. These are two assets that are vital for our ongoing success. Thanks Jake and thanks to his teammates for the the fun I’m gonna have watching the Holiday bowl.

    2. Lucky Infidel on December 28, 2010 9:37 pm

      “Infidel’s (above) comments are outrageous. It always gets me when people think they have some transitive property of inequality for talent measures. Jake exudes talent – and, just as important – he exudes character. To me, he’s been a bright spot for all the time he’s spent at Washington. I fervently hope the Seahawks DO draft him.”

      Good, he can become a priest.

      • Dave J on December 29, 2010 9:20 am

        No doubt there’s a huge disparity once you get to Locker’s place in the list, and explains the losing records.

        An interesting addition to the data above would be the QB’s years as a pro, as several former Dawgs are of the longest tenured in the NFL, and the QB with the best UW record didn’t last but a season (?) – Billy Joe Hobert.

    3. 1coolguy on January 18, 2011 10:32 am

      This is a valuable chart – how about keeping it somewhere in the Husky Football section for reference?

      The lack of talent around Locker cannot be any more clear, given this list.

      Even so, it will be interesting to see Jake perform in the Senior Bowl and the combine, to see whether he can pick up more of the qualities of a good, NFL – quality QB. He has a way to go and hopefully this last part is something he can acquire.

    4. bhamhusky on January 20, 2011 1:54 pm

      Will Locker be Football’s Tim Linsecum, the won Seattle let get away?

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