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Factoid

Malik Willis

Legs make Willis an intriguing QB prospect

I will be interested to see where Malik Willis lands. He’ll need substantial time to develop, but his mobility will make it a lot easier for him to make an impact in fantasy leagues.

Whether any team can get him coached up to the point where he can be put on a field in 2022, I have no idea. If you watch the game against Ole Miss, Willis doesn’t look like a guy who’ll be starting in the NFL anytime soon. But the mobility definitely looks good, with above-average speed and more tackle-breaking ability than you typically see with a quarterback.

Below see a chart showing quarterbacks who ran for at least 600 yards in a college season. And I’m looking here only at quarterbacks who were selected with first- and second-round draft picks – guys who are considered viable pro prospects.

With a few notable expectations (Johnny Manziel, Jake Locker), when a quarterback was an effective runner at the college level, that skill tended to translate to the next level. In general, it’s a stickier skill than what’s being done through the air. Many notable college passers crash and burn at the pro level. But when a guy can run, that tends to apply to the pro game.

COLLEGE QUARTERBACKS / RUSHING STATS
YearPlayerAttYardsAvgTD
2016Lamar Jackson2321,6016.9018
2017Lamar Jackson2601,5716.0421
2010Cam Newton2641,4735.5820
2012Johnny Manziel2011,4107.0121
2019Jalen Hurts2331,2985.5720
2010Colin Kaepernick1731,2066.9720
2009Colin Kaepernick1611,1837.3516
2008Colin Kaepernick1611,1307.0217
2015Deshaun Watson2071,1055.3412
2019Trey Lance1691,1006.5114
2004Vince Young1671,0796.4614
2005Vince Young1551,0506.7712
2018Kyler Murray1401,0017.1512
2003Vince Young1359987.3911
2007Jake Locker1729865.7313
2015Lamar Jackson1639605.8911
2016Jalen Hurts1919544.9913
2020Malik Willis1419446.7014
2009Tim Tebow2179104.1914
2007Tim Tebow2108954.2623
2021Malik Willis1978784.4613
2017Jalen Hurts1548555.558
2008Robert Griffin1738434.8713
2014Marcus Mariota1357705.7015
2013Johnny Manziel1447595.279
2012Marcus Mariota1067527.095
2013Marcus Mariota967157.459
2011Robert Griffin1796993.9110
1999Michael Vick1316825.219
2008Tim Tebow1766733.8212
2014Carson Wentz1386424.656
2010Robert Griffin1496354.268
2004Alex Smith1356314.6710
2016Deshaun Watson1656293.819
2000Michael Vick1046175.938

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index