QB: Jake Locker, Washington

[Uncle Jesse]

Locker started as a freshman in 2007 and went on to have a solid season. The big, 6-3 quarterback passed for 2,062 yards on 155-328 (47.3 completition percentage) with 14 TDs and 15 INTs. He earned several Freshman All American honors, including being voted to the PAC-10's All Conference Freshman Team. Locker started 2008 on fire before suffering a broken thump in Washington's fourth game (Stanford) of the year. Still, he managed to pass for 512 yards (50-93) and one score.

Jake Locker is athletic with quick feet, good -- but not great -- speed (4.59), making him able to set quickly and goes to a deep drop with ease. He has only average arm strength, but is able to make most of the NFL-type throws; he gets good zip on the out patterns, but will have a hard time fitting the ball into tight spots as well as to some of the elite passers. With good mechanics and smooth delivery, Locker shows touch on short and intermediate passes. He works hard as a high-character player and is a natural, intelligent leader.

Although, he is not the purest passer and is inconsistent. Locker must become more accurate when throwing outside the numbers. He also tend to lock up to his primary target for too long and then hold the ball too long. Locker just needs more experience on a pro-style offense.

Locker is one of the early risers in this year's QB class. He has all the tools to be a successful NFL signal caller, in time. He is viewed by many scouts as the second best quarterback in the upcoming draft. Nevertheless, he should return to school for another year of seasoning, running a conventional offense. If he comes out, as expected, some team will overreach and take him in the first round, but he will need time to develop.

http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=2390

[The Common Man]

He's staying in school.

[Uncle Jesse]

A preseason article I found on Locker with a good Q and A.


University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker hasn't had a winning season as a college quarterback, but he is a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy.

What he lacks in the win-loss column, he more than makes up for in physical gifts: size, strength, foot speed and a big arm. All that's missing from a profile that will almost assuredly make him a top pick in the NFL Draft next spring is wins.

FanHouse caught up with Locker in Seattle last week to talk about hype, expectations, his decision to return to Washington for a fifth season and the very real possibility that he could lead the Huskies to their first winning season since 2002. Coach Steve Sarkisian's thoughts are in a separate story.

Q: You are staying in Seattle to focus on football this summer. Can you talk about that decision?

A: Football has always been my first love, ever since I've played tackle football. It's always had a special place in my heart, so, I knew that as far as my football career went, this was probably the most important summer of my life. I wanted to make sure that going into this season, I was prepared as possible and that I knew I had done everything I could do to give myself the best opportunity to succeed.

Q: What are you doing with this time?

A: I'm working out, spending time, just trying to be around the team. Throwing as much as we can. Just getting comfortable with each other. I think we are hoping to do some more team activities off the field, build some team chemistry.

Q: What parts of your own game are you working on?

A: You know, the little things that make such a big difference in the passing game. Footwork, rhythm, being comfortable, taking the right drops and being in the right points in the progression at the right time. And then knowing the offense, studying film, understanding where maybe I had troubles last year and addressing that in our throwing sessions and in our extra work.



Share28 Q: Does preparing for this season feel different than other seasons?

A: No. It's the same feeling. You are preparing to win. You are preparing to have the most success as possible. But knowing that it's my last one going into it, it does have a little bit of a different feeling. And also with wanting to achieve the things you came here to achieve, maybe there's a little sense that this is the last chance for that.

Q: You made such a big improvement as a team last year and people will look at you now and expect more from you. Does that add anything to these summer workouts?

A: The most important part for our team is understanding that we aren't a team that's going to surprise people anymore. We were able to be successful last year and play a lot of close games and could have been in a a lot different position if we could have pulled a couple of games out at the end. So understanding that we aren't going to be able to go into a game like we did last year and surprise people, and understand that you have to work that much harder when you are a team that people recognize on their schedule.

Q: How gratifying is it to taste some success after the program has struggled?

A: We had a couple of big wins last year in the USC game and being able to finish the season like we did against Washington State and Cal. Those are things that the previous three years I'd been here, we hadn't been able to accomplish. We'd never put an exclamation point on the end of our season like that. We always finished mediocre. To win a big game like USC on a national stage was a first for us as well. So I think that going through that experience was something that the guys, including myself, really enjoyed. You can't deny that it's a lot of fun to go through something like that. I think you do get a taste of it and want to repeat it every weekend.

More......

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/06/29/washingtons-jake-locker-looking-forward-to-a-grand-finale/

[The Common Man]

I want for he and I to date.