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Bailey Zappe NFL Draft Profile
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Bailey Zappe Scouting ReportZappe’s intelligence is also evident in how he composes himself in the pocket. He exhibits a high level of pocket awareness, rarely taking sacks in the games studied. The Western Kentucky QB can sense pressure, has the mental and physical traits to evade pressure, and throws the ball away when he can’t escape with his legs. He can escape with his legs due to his above-average athleticism. He’s no Malik Willis in this 2022 NFL Draft class, but Zappe’s 4.7 40-yard-dash speed allows him to evade pressure and pick up yardage on the ground. Additionally, he demonstrates a decent change-of-direction ability to avoid contact. As a passer, Zappe exhibits good footwork. He’s light on his feet and fluid in his movement on his dropback. This footwork allows him to step up in the pocket to make throws, something that not all 2022 NFL Draft quarterback prospects can do. Zappe can routinely throw with velocity into tight windows on short and intermediate passing plays. He gets the ball out of his hand with impressive quickness. The Western Kentucky QB also demonstrates the ability to throw with timing and anticipation, putting his pass catchers into position to succeed after the catch. His career completion percentage would have been higher if not for a high number of dropped catches in the games studied. Zappe also makes some impressive deep throws. There were multiple examples of him throwing from the far hash to the sideline in the games studied. Some of these passes were over 40 yards downfield, demonstrating NFL-caliber arm talent. As with his short and intermediate throws, these are frequently placed where only his receiver can make a play. |
Areas for ImprovementThe Western Kentucky QB can be guilty of throwing a looping deep ball. The ball can hang rather than zip through the air on downfield attempts. Moreover, his accuracy breaks down when throwing on the run. There were some plays where he zipped the ball into his receiver while moving. However, the majority of on-the-move passes were high, wide, and handsome. Finally, at 6’1″, there could be some size concerns from the NFL. There are certainly taller quarterback prospects in this class. That said, Zappe doesn’t appear to have the same height-based issues that someone like Sam Hartman has exhibited. Nonetheless, it’s something to be aware of.
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Bailey Zappe Career at SchoolSo Zappe’s path to the NFL Draft continued at Houston Baptist in the FCS Southland Conference. Despite being a true freshman, he played in 10 games with nine starts in his first season in college. Although it wasn’t all highlights and hot streaks (Zappe threw 10 interceptions to just 5 touchdowns in 2017), he set a school record with 248 yards and a touchdown in a 24-17 win at Texas Southern. Breaking records would become part of Zappe’s legacy at HBU. During his sophomore season, he set the single-game record with 348 yards against McNeese. In going 32-of-54 passing against Central Arkansas, he set the program record for completions and attempts. By the end of the year, he’d thrown for 2,812 yards with 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, earning an All-Southland Conference honorable mention. As a junior, he exceeded his record by going 49-of-69 passing against Incarnate Word. Not content with beating his records, Zappe threw for 7 touchdowns against Texas Southern, establishing a new marker for future quarterbacks at the program. Demonstrating exceptional development between his second and third years, Zappe led the nation with 35 passing touchdowns and ranked second in the country with 317.6 yards per game.
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Bailey Zappe NFL Draft Player ProfileZappe’s play through the 2021 college football season has elevated him firmly into the 2022 NFL Draft conversation. Through 11 games, he has amassed a staggering 4,640 passing yards and 48 touchdowns. The Western Kentucky QB has six games with over 400 yards. In eight games this season, he has completed over 70% of his passes. He has five contests with 5+ touchdowns, including 7 TDs in his debut against UT Martin. Zappe isn’t just picking apart FCS teams for an FBS program, however. While Michigan State doesn’t possess the best pass defense in the nation, Zappe threw for 488 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Big Ten contender. Additionally, he put up 523 yards (second-most of his career) against an undefeated UTSA team. In the 2019 college football season, Joe Burrow parlayed an incredible, record-breaking statistical campaign into the first overall selection of the 2020 NFL Draft. While we’re not comparing Zappe to Burrow (or even Zach Wilson in last year’s class), he is on course to set single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns per game.
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