Osweiler, Foles much to gain at Combine

Brock Osweiler and Nick Foles’ college careers certainly didn’t end the way they expected.

Osweiler set a handful of single-season records leading ASU back to a bowl game, but opted to skip his senior year of eligibility in Tempe after Dennis Erickson was let go back in December.

Foles also experienced a coaching change his senior season as Mike Stoops was fired in early October after the Wildcats stumbled out to a 1-5 start. 

Both now find themselves here in Indianapolis with the opportunity to prove they can play, and play well, at the next level.

“Foles and Osweiler are both guys people believe can really rise in this draft,” ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen told Pros2Preps.com on Thursday. “Osweiler is fascinating. I talked to [quarterback consultant] Terry Shea and he said Osweiler caught him off-guard. He’s very impressed. We know he’s a good athlete…he had a basketball scholarship to Gonzaga.”

The pair also benefits from the fact the top two quarterbacks in this class, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III, will not throw at the combine on Friday. It is widely believed that outside of Luck, Osweiler and Foles possess the strongest arms in the draft.

“Foles is interesting,” NFL.com senior draft analyst Gil Brandt explained to Pros2Preps.com. “I think he’s going to be a Top 100 pick. He’s got a great arm. He can throw the ball through a brick wall.”

The Michigan State transfer sparkled statistically his senior season in Tucson completing just under 70% of his throws for over 4,300 yards and 28 touchdowns. He was intercepted 14 times.

Both players gaudy statistics may be decreased in value if each fail to live up to the scouts expectations when they go through a detailed series of throws and individual workouts Friday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Critics say both signal-callers need to improve their footwork and mechanics, but no one can question either players upside when it comes to football intelligence and work ethic.