A three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year, Grayson McCall has been one of college football’s most productive passers since he took the field in 2020. But when can McCall enter the NFL Draft?
NFL Eligibility Rules
In the NFL, players become eligible for the draft after completing at least three years of college football or are three years removed from graduating high school.
They must also declare for the draft by a specific deadline, which is typically in January of the year they wish to enter the NFL Draft.
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McCall was a three-star quarterback recruit out of North Carolina in the class of 2019, along with Bo Nix, Jayden Daniels, Sam Howell, and Spencer Rattler. With the eligibility rules in place, McCall is eligible to declare for the NFL Draft after this season.
With the COVID eligibility extension and a redshirt season, McCall has another year of eligibility left if he does decide to return to college.
Grayson McCall Scouting Report
McCall’s ability as a college passer hasn’t been questioned, but is he a viable NFL Draft prospect? Pro Football Network’s Ian Cummings scouting report on McCall reveals a prospect with a decent floor but questionable NFL ceiling.
Strengths
- Has a lean, prototypical frame and is a fleet-footed, flexible athlete with good burst.
- Has the change of direction to create off-script and the speed to extend plays outside.
- Can use his brisk athleticism to shuffle out of reach from pressure threats and evade.
- Has shown he can detect outside pressure threats and navigate through interior lanes.
- Can stay disciplined with his depth at the top of his drop and avoid creating chaos.
- Sports a tight, compact, and efficient release, which helps keep the offense on schedule.
- Incredibly efficient passer across a multi-year starting career at the collegiate level.
- Flashes good progression work and can work left to right while managing space.
- Has shown he can react quickly to hitches and comebacks on schemed quick targets.
- Can keep his eyes up on the scramble drill and identify WRs breaking open late.
- Has the awareness to quickly dish the ball to his check down in adverse situations.
- Able to properly sequence his lower-body mechanics to sustain torque and accuracy.
- When in rhythm, can consistently hit targets with accuracy in the short range.
- Able to place boundary passes with outside-shoulder precision, mitigating threats.
- Reliable decision-maker on option plays who can bait defenders with his running ability.
Weaknesses
- Arm strength is poor, failing to drive velocity consistently at any range.
- Doesn’t have the elasticity to maintain velocity while manipulating loft and trajectory.
- Isn’t an elite athlete or creator and experiences lapses in vision as a ball carrier.
- Sometimes sinks too much on his first hitch, tugging his front shoulder up.
- Jerks in phase movement can contribute to shoulder misalignment and inaccuracy.
- Occasionally exhibits a heel click on release, locking his hips and inhibiting torque.
- At times, throws behind his targets after resetting his base for sequential progressions.
- Can more consistently roll his base through throws to maximize hip rotation.
- Pressure threats can force him to pull his release overhead, detracting from pace.
- Isn’t always comfortable releasing in tight pockets, displaying a need for improved poise.
- Sometimes misses targets over the middle when stepping up in the pocket.
- Needs to be a hair quicker anticipating short routes to compensate for lacking velocity.
- Fairly reliant on schemed targets and rhythm throws and needs schematic insulation.
