NFL Draft: Michigan Football QB Jake Rudock Should Have Teams’ Interest
By Mike Clark
The NFL Draft is just over a month away, and former Michigan football quarterback Jake Rudock has earned the attention of the league’s teams.
It’s the silly season in the NFL. You probably know it as the buildup to the NFL Draft.
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It’s those last few weeks when pro scouts really make their money, attending a million and one pro days on college campuses all across the country, seeking in many cases to validate their beliefs in some highly touted prospects, while at the same time looking to uncover that ever-elusive, hidden gem that all scouts covet.
One position that rarely lacks attention heading into the draft is quarterback; this year is definitely no exception. You’ve heard their names over and over and over again: Carson Went, Jared Goff and so on. And you seem to hear the same comments about these sure-fire early draft picks. They have good size, a strong arm. He “can make all the throws.” Yeah, I get it, and I’ve heard it every year about several quarterbacks each draft season.
Then there’s Jake Rudock. Remember him? Just in case, here’s a quick refresher course:
A redshirt senior transfer from Iowa, a pre-med major, Rudock had already thrown for over 4,800 yards and 34 touchdowns in two seasons before joining the Michigan football program. Rudock was considered too small and was lightly recruited (at least by the Big Ten), despite having led perennial powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale, Florida to a 15-0 record and both state and national championships as a senior.
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And, ho-hum, he also holds records for total yards, wins by a starting quarterback, and state and national championships, among others. Not bad, huh?
Oh yeah, he also managed to be the guy who helped Jim Harbaugh guide Michigan back into the conversation on a national level in 2015.
Given his personal history of being overlooked by the football powers that be, it was really not surprising that Rudock was not included among the players invited to the NFL Scouting Combing in Indianapolis last month. Apparently not one to dwell on such snubs for too long, the former Wolverine concentrated on preparing for Michigan’s pro day where, in true Rudockian fashion, he rose to the occasion.
Veteran NFL scout Gil Brandt reported that Rudock “turned a lot of heads” during the session. He was apparently very impressive in all of the running, jumping, and cone drills (you know, the “underwear Olympics” segments of the day). Brandt also said Rudock “had a good, not great, arm and was very accurate in his pro day workout.” Yep, sounds like typical Jake Rudock stuff.
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Rudock eventually wants to be a doctor. If past performance is an indicator of future results, the stethoscope and lab coat might have to wait a while. That’s somewhere in his future, but I’m betting that a helmet and pads are the now.