David Pollack isn’t slowing the Drew Mestemaker conversation down anytime soon.
On Monday, Bleacher Report posted a video of Pollack studying Mestemaker’s tape, and the former analyst didn’t waste time with caution. He went straight at it: “The future No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft, Drew Mestemaker,” Pollack said.
Pollack then laid out the traits he sees in the Oklahoma State quarterback, starting with the basics that jump off the screen. “Here’s the thing about Drew Mestemaker, he has all the tools you wanna see.
He’s 6-(foot)-3, 225 (pounds), and he’s sneaky athletic. We’ll start there.
He’s got the big arm. He can throw into man.
He can throw into zone.”
The film breakdown opened with Mestemaker’s 75-yard run to begin the Oregon game, a play Pollack used to underline the quarterback’s mobility. From there, he shifted to a throw to Terrence Lewis against West Virginia, when Mestemaker read a zone look, layered the ball over the linebackers and hit Lewis in stride as he ran.
Pollack kept coming back to the same point: Mestemaker has the full package. “The No. 1 thing you have to be able to do, have arm talent - check, size - check, athletic ability - check,” Pollack said.
“Why else is Mestemaker gonna be the No. 1 overall pick? You better be able to throw in tight windows.
You better have some arm arrogance. The ability to throw the football where it shouldn’t fit there, but I’ll fit it there.
…
“This is the equivalent of going to the golf course. I’ve gotta get this up, but it’s also gotta be able to come down at the right spot.”
He also pointed to Mestemaker’s flea-flicker throw against Oregon, when a Ducks defender came free and looked ready to get home before Mestemaker fired the ball over two defenders and into the hands of Wyatt Young.
Pollack finished with Mestemaker’s acrobatic leap into the end zone against Oregon, using it as a snapshot of the quarterback’s toughness. “This dude is a dude, man,” Pollack said.
“Right here (points at heart). He ain’t scared to get hit.
He’s not worried about getting hit. …
“It’s good to be tall. It’s good to have a big arm.
It’s good to be able to throw in zones. It’s good to be able to run.
It’s good to be able to do all those things, but then how competitive are you, man? How tough are you?
How much are you gonna make that play when I need it at that moment?”
The hype around Mestemaker hasn’t cooled during Oklahoma State’s bye, and with a lot of football still ahead, the buzz around his NFL Draft stock has only grown louder over the past few weeks.
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There is still some presence on the other side of the ball, especially with edge rusher Djibril Rahman emerging as a defensive leader, but the broader picture is one of uncertainty for San Diego State. For Oregon State, that matters because a team with this much instability can be vulnerable early, especially if the Beavers are able to push pace and make the Aztecs sort through problems on both offense and defense before they find any footing. [Read more 🡒]
