/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16965271/151090320.0.jpg)
San Jose State has been an afterthought in the college football world, nearly forever. However, all of that will change as its starting quarterback David Fales is a possible first-round draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
In 2012, Fales threw for 4,193 yards, tossed 33 touchdowns, misfired on just nine interceptions and completed a staggering 72.5 percent of his passes. The offensive line helped out Fales last year but he did lose his starting left tackle David Quessenberry who was taken in the sixth-round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Fales also has been aided by having one of the best wide receivers in college football in Noel Grisby who had over 100 catches in 2012.
Fales has the prototypical size of a NFL quarterback towering at 6'3" and weights 220 pounds. With that bulk he can take on the hits from the defense. He also has a quick release and has good anticipation in the pocket.
The major weakness of Fales is his lack of arm strength on the deep ball, and the NFL loves them the deep ball. Fales will float the ball and put too much air underneath the long passes, plus his velocity on the ball for medium range to long passes is also somewhat weak. However, mechanics could be the issue and if he gets that fixed then his deep ball will be a strength.
Fales has plenty of talent to be considered one of the best NFL-bound quarterbacks this season, and the folks over at Mocking the Draft are taking a deeper look at Fales with their extremely early scouting report:
Fales will be in the running to be the first senior quarterback off the board next April, but he has his work cut out for him. While he possesses a strong understanding of the game and the toughness to excel in the NFL, he needs to prove that he can drive the ball down field and into tight windows to be a high first round pick. He doesn't play a strong schedule with San Jose State being in the WAC, so every mistake will be magnified by those trying to nitpick his game. Fales has to dominate again in 2013 to be the first senior quarterback taken next April.
The move to the Mountain West is a step up in terms of competition and that can be a double-edged sword, because Fales will be going up better players and if he does well his stock will rise but if he struggles then his draft status will drop like an anchor.
More from Mountain West Connection: