How is Troy Smith, after winning the Heisman, not in anybody's mock draft for the first round?

Question

How does a guy that performed on such a high level like Smith did & also wins the Heisman not be on everyone's mock draft for the first round?

Answer 1

I think everyone else has touched on some of the factors (short, lack of speed, lack of arm strength,etc.). These all play a role in where any player is projected, it has nothing to do with how well someone did in college. Peyton manning didnt win a heisman nor did he pile up National Championships but his game obviously projected well in the pro game. The bottom line is he doesnt have the ability to transfer his tools to the pro game and he proved as much at the combine. One scout called him a "Fat Cat", not in a flattering way (on the field at the combine in front of cameras...i think that speaks volumes). His attitude has cost him along with some behavior problems early on at OSU. He figures to be an extremely poor mans Mike Vick and teams wont shell out big money to someone they fear: A...doesnt have pro size or strength...B...has character issues and he wasnt smart enough to try to project a different attitude at the combine. It told the NFL guys exactly what they already figured....he projects to be the latest Heisman trophy winning bust in the NFL. Best guess is someone picks him 4th round but more likely 5th, on most team boards he is not even a top 5 QB. Truth is just about any Div 1 QB would have looked good throwing to Ginn & Gonzalez and standing behind the great O-Line at OSU. he is simply a product of a great college program (like a lot of Heisman winning QBs who busted out in the NFL).

Answer 2

Oh wow yet another one asking this, guess you don't quite get football so I'll rattle off some reasons
1)What have you done for me lately syndrome - No matter how well he has preformed his last game is the most important. His last game was they game against the Gators and well we saw how he did there.
2) the Heisman is MEANINGLESS - it is nothing more then a popularity contest, and mostly for QBs. I'd say 9 times out of 10 the hiesman is going to a QB and not the best PLAYER in College Football that year. If you have 1 BCS team with an undefeated record 99% of the time that QB will get the Heisman.
3) HE IS SHORT- he has to see over the Linesman(both O and D) and has to be able to THROW over the D linesman's reach. Well he is shorter then the D linesman and that effects how high he will have to throw to get over their reach, which cuts down how far he can throw(can only throw so high in an arc)
4) People don't think much of the Big Ten in College Football - Seriously if he was coming from USC then yeah he would probably STILL be in the first or at least second round.

Answer 3

Winning the Heisman does not make you a first rounder. Look at all the busts that have won the Heisman. I like Troy Smith but he looked real bad playing Fla, and in the Senior Bowl. Not only that but O.State he had a lot of weapon. Also they didn't play the best teams. (I know that's not his fault)
Russell (LSU) is a monster, and B.Quinn came from an NFL "O". That's why they are ahead of him in the draft.

Answer 4

College success means nothing in the pros. It's a completely different game. He doesnt have the size or arm strength and accuracy to be a good pocket passer. He doesnt have the speed to be a Mike Vick type QB. He is bound to get injured. Heisman winning QB's rarely have success in the pros. Let's look at some of the more recent ones. Chris Weinke, Eric Crouch, Danny Wuerffel.

Answer 5

He had a terrible senior bowl performance. That, along with his choke-act in the National Championship Game really hurt his draft standing. I think he is a career backup anyways. He's kinda short, just not the prototypical NFL QB. He might work well as a Randel-el type player, except he isn't working out as a reciever. But I see him as 2nd or 3rd round pick, plus how can you go against Mel Kiper's hair?

Answer 6

He is not the typical NFL QB. He's small, about 6', a good arm but not a great arm, he would be a major reach for anyone needing a QB to pick in the first round. He'll probably go late 2nd, maybe even early 3rd.

Answer 7

I ttly agree with you. I guess pple say he is to short, can't throw the deep ball, and had one bad game in the national championship. I think he should be the #2 QB in the draft, just because JAMarcus Russle is 6'5 250. He could be a star, and I would take him in a heart beat. If he does get a chance to start, he will do better than JaMarcus Russel and Braddy Quinn because they will go to bad teams w/ no offincive line, and Troy Smith will be the third most mobile QB in the NFL after Vick and Young.

Answer 8

look at jason white. he won the heisman and never got drafted. the heisman doesnt automatically project to the first round

Answer 9

I would have to say his size for one.Some guys win the Heisman and that doesn't always mean they will automatically have success in the NFL

Answer 10

He's short and performed badly at the senior bowl and the National Title game.