The best quarterback playing college football in the Northwest last season didn't play in the Pac-10. He was a Division-II athlete playing out of Ellensburg, Wash.
Of course, Central Washington QB Mike Reilly, like most pro-level prospects from Division-II, got his start at a D-I school before transferring.
Now, he hopes to follow in former Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco's footsteps and prove an NFL starter can come from all levels of collegiate competition.
To continue...
Strengths
Reilly has ideal size for the NFL at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, and he combines this with excellent quickness and speed. While setting numerous passing records at Central, he was enough of a running threat to lead his team in rushing in 2008.
As said, he broke many school and conference records, including the career passing yards mark of former Seahawk quarterback Jon Kitna.
A four-year starter, Reilly displayed solid knowledge of his team's offense, as he routinely picked apart opposing defenses systematically.
He does a great job of making progressions and can make the accurate throw in the short to intermediate range.
Weaknesses
Unlike Kitna and Flacco before him, Reilly does not have ideal arm strength, which may relegate him to strict West Coast offenses only in the NFL.
Furthermore, he has run a spread offense at Central. So not only do scouts need to evaluate his talent versus a low level of competition, they have to do so in an easy stats-happy system.
At 24 years old, he won't have the luxury of youth and potential to drive up his stock, either.
How does he fit in Seattle?
If Seattle doesn't go quarterback in the first round, then their options evaporate very quickly. Reilly is one of the few available in the middle to late rounds.
He fits a West Coast offense and would provide Seattle with a player to potentially groom for a future without Matt Hasselbeck.
Of course, the last quarterback Seattle drafted, David Greene in the third round, didn't turn out so well. Middle-round quarterbacks are always a shot in the dark.
Draft position
Despite a shaky performance in the East-West Shrine Game, Reilly has upped his draft stock by performing well in workouts and the combine.
He could go as high as the fourth round at this point, but he could also fall to the seventh or not get drafted at all. Most have him ranked in the top 10 at quarterback.
Working in his favor is the complete lack of mid-level talent this year at the quarterback position. He won't have too much competition, and this may get him drafted higher than he would have in most years.
There are no highlights, but here are a few links to previous articles written about Reilly and his involvement with Seattle personnel in the offseason.
Team continues scouting Central QB Mike Reilly
Greg Knapp spending time with Central QB Mike Reilly
Reach Jeff Richards at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
