Brett Hundley wisely planning to stay in school
UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Virginia Tech Hokies in the 2013 Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
It was reported last month that UCLA Bruins star quarterback Brett Hundley wanted to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft, but those close to him were advising him to stay in school for another year. Those telling him to stay seemed to be members of his own camp and the university, and their advice is wise indeed. While Hundley is a talented prospect, he could use the polish that one more year in school could bring, especially after an uneven second half of his 2013 campaign. This year, Hundley wouldn’t be a top ten draft pick. Next year, however, it would be an upset if Hundley wasn’t selected in the top ten.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Hundley is planning to stay at UCLA for his redshirt junior year, and there will be an official announcement later on in the week regarding his decision. It’s been an agonizing choice for Hundley, who has clearly been on the fence for quite some time regarding whether or not he should declare. There are some teams that are very bullish on Hundley due to his upside, but he really needs to stay in school, get another year of education, and enjoy being a star QB in college (that’s something to relish).
But more importantly, Hundley needs to become a more polished passer, because he doesn’t sense pressure well and isn’t quite as good as he needs to be when throwing it out of the pocket. He has great upside and incredible athleticism and rushing ability (he also has plenty of arm talent), but he needs to work on the finer points of his game like decision-making. Hopefully Schefter’s report stands, and Hundley doesn’t change his mind; he should stay one more season.