The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Skinny: Locker has a great combination of speed and arm strength because he’s just a great all around athlete, also drafted by the Angels because of his 95 mph fast ball. Locker has struggled w/ his accuracy throughout his career as coaches have tried to tweak his throwing motion. His footwork is going to need a lot of refinement or his accuracy woes will continue. While some scouts won’t take the risk on Locker, there’ll be more than a few quarterback coaches in the NFL that will be convinced on Lockers intangibles, athleticism, + rocket arm to think they can mold him into a franchise passer.

2010: Despite the assumption by most that Locker would’ve been the first quarterback chosen in 2010, he did not receive a first round grade from the NFL Advisory Committee. He needs to show improved decision-making under pressure during his senior season to keep his name in the running as a franchise quarterback and potential top overall pick.

Scout's Take

Pros: With Locker’s combination of arm strength and athletic ability, many believed he would have challenged Sam Bradford as the number one overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft had the Husky declared. The Washington native has the type of zip on his passes necessary to fit the ball in tight spots, as well as make all the throws required in the NFL. Locker also has the ability to create a throwing window in any situation, easily manipulating his release point to ensure the ball will not be batted down. When he gets the time to set his feet within the pocket and play with proper footwork the Pac-10 product has little trouble hitting receivers in stride with compact, perfect spirals. His running ability makes Locker the top dual-threat signal caller in the nation—he has already set the school record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,554, including a Pac-10 record 987 in his freshman season. His size allows him to be more physical than your typical scrambler, with the burst to break off a long run as well. Locker is also blessed with great instincts and tends to perform best when the lights are brightest. Whether against top-notch competition or in situations requiring steely play, Locker comes through and seems to enjoy the moment. His natural ability allows him to make difficult plays look easy and single-handedly keep his team in games or drive them down the field in clutch situations. Locker has a passion for the game and has displayed top-notch leadership skills as well.

Cons: As Locker enters his senior season he will have to answer questions regarding his durability; the injuries he sustained during his freshman (neck injury) and sophomore seasons (broken thumb) cannot be overlooked. Nevertheless, proving he is durable isn’t why Locker returned to Washington. The signal caller passed up NFL riches (for a year) to become more accurate and consistent as a quarterback. If that doesn’t happen, questions will begin to arise as to whether he will truly convert from a raw talent into a polished passer. While Locker has the rare ability to make the impossible look easy, he also has a maddening tendency to make the easy look impossible; too often he misses open targets with no pressure around him. If Locker is to solidify himself as a potential number one pick in 2011, he has to start making the easy plays. Locker also has to become more advanced at going through his progressions before deciding to bolt out of the pocket or tuck the ball and scramble. He needs to stop feeling phantom pressure and bailing out of the pocket; not every play is designed to be a bootleg. It’s not a major issue, but it should be noted that Locker was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in the 10th Round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft and signed to a six-year, $250,000 contract. We don’t question Locker’s commitment but NFL teams will take a closer look.

Our View: Since his red-shirt freshman season when he become the 19th player in NCAA history to throw for more than 300 yards and run for over 100 yards in the same game, Locker has flashed elite potential. Entering his senior season at Washington, Locker is considered by most as the favorite to be the number one overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Contrary to popular belief Locker made the right decision to go back to Washington for another year of tutelage under Washington Head Coach Steve Sarkisian. It was a decision that comes with risk, but Locker will be better for it long-term. Prior to his junior season Locker was either hurt and off the field or a tease on it. Now that he has begun to put it together on the field in a pro-style offense, Locker’s inherent talent has NFL evaluators all atwitter. However, he was not ready for the big stage after just one good year; he still has consistency and accuracy issues that would be better adjusted with experience on the field as a senior than as an NFL rookie on the bench. Locker has the skills to become a dominant NFL quarterback, but his preseason draft status is contingent upon his remaining healthy and making strides as a passer—he still needs to improve on his throwing mechanics and reading defenses more intuitively. It would be nice to see Locker complete over 60 percent of his passes during his senior season.  The career 53 percent passer hasn’t yet reached that mark over the course of a college season. If Locker can do that and remain healthy he should be in the running to be the top pick and a lock for the top five.

Scout's Notebook

10/02/10 - @ USC - After taking so much flak—and deservedly so—for his abysmal performance against Nebraska, Jake Locker had a pretty solid bounce back game on the road at USC. Locker had his first 300-yard game of the season (310) and completed 60 percent of passes (24 of 40) while throwing one touchdown (no interceptions). The senior completed a key 18-yard pass on fourth-and-ten from Washington’s own 23-yard line to get the game-winning drive started. Locker also rushed for a team-high 110 yards on 12 carries (9.2 yards per carry). - Scouting the Nation (Week 5)

News

11/02/10 - Washington will be without QB Jake Locker a potential top 5-10 prospect for the 2011 draft, when the Huskies play at #1 ranked Oregon on Saturday. Locker is out with a broken rib that has gotten worse over the past three weeks. Indeed, the injury started as a cartilage issue, but became a hairline fracture and ultimately a fully cracked bone. Washington, though, reportedly hopes to have Locker back for the team’s final three games.

09/20/10 - Although many evaluators, but not us at The War Room, anointed Locker as the No. 1-overall prospect, Locker's play Saturday will give NFL general managers pause. He completed only 4-of-20 passes for 71 yards with one TD and two interceptions. Locker (6-2, 232) again showed elite arm strength and athleticism against Nebraska, but his lack of accuracy throughout the game raises real concerns as to whether he is an NFL-ready QB. Teams shouldn't think about drafting a developmental guy high in the first round. He did not look comfortable in the pocket and hurried his throws at times. Most important, his passes were consistently off-target. – The Sporting News

09/08/10 - Locker finally has the right man calling the shots, especially when it comes to cramming for the NFL. Steve Sarkisian is a former quarterback at BYU and offensive coordinator at USC. He took over the Huskies last year and installed a pro-style passing game, which Locker gobbled up to the tune of 2,800 yards as a junior. “He’s made great strides not only as a passer but his overall knowledge of the game of football,” Sarkisian said. “I think as we continue to grow, we continually need to strive for consistency not only in Jake’s game but in our offensive football team’s game. Right now were a big little offense. There’s some really big plays that look good and there’s some plays that are for zero or minus.” There’s another interesting link in the Sarkisian-Locker chain. Sarkisian worked with Matt Leinart at USC, and that quarterback was projected as the No. 1 pick if he came out as a junior. Instead, Leinart stayed with the Trojans, slid to Arizona at No. 10 and was dumped this preseason after his tumultuous failure to win the starting job. “He’s got prototypical size. He’s got tremendous arm strength. He’s got athleticism. He’s in a system that allows him to showcase those things. And he’s a great competitor,” Sarkisian said. “All those things combined with his wits, his smarts, give him an opportunity to be successful at the next level. There’s a lot of road in between now and then. We’re just starting on it.” – Syracuse.com

08/28/10 - Locker cites returning UW to the postseason for the first time since 2002 as a major reason he decided to stay in college instead of already enjoying the benefits of a big-money NFL contract. But just as big a factor, he says, is simply being a hometown college kid for another year. "I made that decision because of a lot of things," he says. "I get my degree. I spend another year in college with friends that I will be friends with the rest of my life. And [I] get to experience another season of college football, which I have said time and time again is the greatest sport in America at any level. ...I am happy with the decision I made. I don't regret it, I won't ever regret it, and I won't second-guess my decision no matter what happens." To the national media, Locker is one of the potential breakout stars of this season: a 6-foot-3, 230-pound quarterback who can run a 4.4 40, all the physical attributes that so entice the NFL. – Seattle Times

08/15/10 - Washington quarterback Jake Locker has undergone several transformations. It started in his high school days leading a Wing-T offense. He then learned the nuances of the spread offense from former University of Washington coach Tyrone Willingham, and finally started mastering the pro-style offense under second-year UW coach Steve Sarkisian. Minor suggestions, such as keeping his elbow up in his throwing setup, were smaller lessons for Locker. The primary emphasis was his overall alignment. The mechanics are there now. So is Locker’s understanding of Sarkisian’s pro-style offense. All that is left is ironing out some of the wrinkles. Because Locker’s passing has started to catch up to his athleticism, he could become the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL draft. – The Bellingham Herald

01/10/10 - The promise of a big pile of money waiting in the NFL couldn’t overpower quarterback Jake Locker’s belief that he had goals to accomplish before he leaves Washington. “The only reason for going was because there’s a lot of money involved. I didn’t care about that. That’s not what it’s about for me,” Locker said on Friday, his first extended comments about his decision since it was announced on Dec. 14. In making that decision, Locker gave up a chance to possibly be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft. But Locker only sees the benefits. He gets another year under the coaching of Steve Sarkisian with the opportunity to make additional strides in becoming a better passer. – Associated Press

12/14/09 - Washington Huskies quarterback Jake Locker announced Monday that he will return for his senior season instead of entering the NFL draft, despite most projections slotting him as an early first-round selection, ESPN is reporting. "After a great deal of careful thought and deliberation, I have decided to return to Washington and play my senior year," Locker said in a statement. "I am very excited about this team's opportunities and potential for the upcoming season and I am looking forward to being a part of it."

12/08/09 - Washington coach Steve Sarkisian says he's "very optimistic" that star quarterback Jake Locker will return to the Huskies for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft. Sarkisian made the remark Tuesday, one day after he met with Locker to discuss his draft prospects. Asked why he was optimistic, Sarkisian said only, "That's just the way I am." The coach says Locker submitted a request to the NFL for evaluation of his draft status, but such a move is customary. The deadline for players to enter the draft is Jan. 15. – Associated Press

12/07/09 - Scott Locker, the father of Husky quarterback Jake Locker, revealed an interesting tidbit while appearing on KJR-AM 950. No, Pops didn't offer any hints on whether his son might be staying or going once he sits down to ponder his NFL opportunity in the coming days. But he did say that he went through the process of lining up an insurance policy to protect Jake in case of injury this past season, but his son said he didn't want to go that route. "He said, 'That's like saying I'm going to go out there and get hurt,'" Scott Locker said. "That's not the way he rolls." Jake himself said after Saturday's season finale that he'd spent no time yet pondering his decision, but would begin that process this week. – Hearst Seattle Media

12/01/09 - Let the speculation begin because Washington coach Steve Sarkisian is already wondering if Saturday will be Jake Locker's last game as the Huskies quarterback. Sarkisian admitted he took time to ponder that Locker could be making his Washington farewell Saturday against No. 19 California. "He's done some things and we've seen some things that he's done that make you go, 'Wow, this guy can really do it all.' And then there's been moments where it hasn't happened the way he would have and we would have liked and he's learned from it and moved forward," Sarkisian said. "In his mind, he's not worried about what that decision might be." Only a junior, Locker is be touted by NFL draft pundits as a potential first-round pick and possibly the first quarterback selected if he were to leave school early. Scouts love his speed and ability to run out of the pocket, but also see his growth as a passer in Locker's first season in Sarkisian's pro-style offense. Entering the season finale, Locker has thrown for 2,552 yards and 18 touchdowns, while completing nearly 57 percent of his passes. – Bellingham Herald

11/16/09 - Asked to assess the performance of quarterback Jake Locker this season, first-year Washington football coach Steve Sarkisian on Monday termed it "somewhat up and down," citing moments of brilliance mixed with inconsistency. What's mostly been up, however, are the projections of where Locker might go should he declare for the 2010 NFL draft. "We'll assess it after the year," Sarkisian said. "I think Jake is a bright young man who is patient, he's got two tremendous parents that have raised him extremely well, and we'll get all the proper information in place and he'll make a really good decision in what's best for he and his family, and not just the immediate, but for his future as well." Sarkisian said it's only natural that the NFL has been on Locker's mind. "You are reading it, people are talking about it, asking you about it — human nature tells you that yeah, of course you are going to think about it," Sarkisian said. "To what extent it affects his play, I don't know that. But I know he's thought about it." – Seattle Times