https://247sports.com/Article/Ohio-...-is-ready-for-Penn-State-NFL-stage-122535827/
Enjoy Dwayne Haskins, CFB's newest star, while you can
By CHRIS HUMMER
After a late-June session in Georgia working with
Deshaun Watson,
Dwayne Haskins and
Justin Fields, quarterback trainer Quincy Avery polled Watson for his thoughts on Ohio State's starter-to-be.
“He’s a pro,” Watson said.
“What do you mean?” Avery said. “He hasn’t started a game yet.”
“He’s ready right now,” Watson said. “He can do it all.”
“You think so?” Avery said.
“Yeah, he’s probably going to be playing one season at Ohio State,” Watson said.
Avery laughs when relaying this conversation, because it could well be true. Haskins, a redshirt sophomore, is already considered one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy and is on pace to crush nearly every Ohio State single-season passing record as he prepares for the biggest test of his young career against No. 9 Penn State on Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
Haskins is 4-0 as a starter, having thrown for 1,194 yards and 16 touchdowns against a single interception while completing 75.7 percent of his passes. Haskins had the offseason challenge to replace J.T. Barrett, the all-time winningest quarterback in Buckeyes history. The first-time starter is making that difficult task look easy.
Not that Haskins is any stranger to that. The way the ball snaps off his wrist is a thing of wonder. Avery tells people frequently Haskins could be in the NFL right now based on pure arm talent. In fact, he can make throws many NFL quarterbacks can’t.
What separates Haskins is his ability to combine both touch and power. His power, the gift to throw a laser on a rope, is evident. But so is the throw with touch where he fits the ball over a linebacker and drops it in front of a safety. Just as importantly, Haskins can toss deep balls with an arching trajectory. The type of pass that falls into a receiver’s hands without them breaking stride.
“The only thing that’s holding him back right now is just the number of starts,” Avery said. “If he’d have played his freshman and sophomore year, I think people would be saying he’s the most talented guy in college football.”
The player who’s self-dubbed himself “Simba” on Twitter – aka future king – is both confident and charismatic. Tough and emphatic. A future NFL pro but a man very much locked into academia, the arts and religion.
Cont'd ...
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