Carson Strong is one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2022 draft class, and Lions fans will have an easier time seeing him this week.
As the Detroit Lions search for a franchise quarterback, the class of signal callers for the 2022 draft is without a can’t miss prospect. That said, Nevada quarterback Carson Strong is in the first-round conversation and should absolutely be on the Lions’ radar. A few mock drafts have had Detroit taking him with their second opening round pick.
Strong put himself on the NFL radar with a good 2020 season, and through 10 games this season he has 3,547 passing yards with a completion a shade north of 70 percent, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
As noted by Crissy Froyd of The Draft Network, Strong got banged up in Nevada’s 27-24 win over San Jose State on Nov. 6. A right knee injury appeared to linger into last Saturday against San Diego State, but under a fair amount of duress again Strong threw for 350 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in a 23-21 loss to the top 25-ranked Aztecs.
Carson Strong dime down the sideline alert… it’s an every week thing.
— Crissy Froyd (@crissy_froyd) November 14, 2021
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As a fourth-year junior, Strong is likely to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, Strong has decided on an agent.
"What I’m hearing is, the rumor out west is Carson Strong has decided on representation and will enter the 2022 NFL Draft. I’m told he’s gone. We’ll have to wait and see, but that’s what the word is out west.”"
Pauline heaped praise on the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Strong.
"Hands down the strongest arm of any quarterback in this class. Strongest arm of any quarterback I’ve seen in a long time. It’s bombs away with this guy. It’s not like dink and dunk, you know, hit the receiver 5 yards off the line of scrimmage, and then a receiver runs 60 yards, so it’s a 65-yard reception. No, it’s a 65-yard pass through the air to hit one of his receivers down the field, and the ball comes down. And it’s wet because the guy can get it up so high."
Carson Strong is in action on Friday night
Playing in the Mountain West Conference and regularly on down-spout tv networks makes it hard to see Strong play during a lot of college football weekends. But this week, he’s playing Friday night against 7-3 Air Force.
The Falcons are averaging 2.3 sacks per game this season, and they have the 13th-ranked pass defense in the country (184.2 yards allowed per game). So it will be a solid test for Strong, like San Diego State was last week, and the NFL will be paying attention with fewer games on the college football schedule on a Friday night.
How to watch Strong on Friday night: vs. Air Force, 9:00 p.m ET, TV: FS1
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