NFL scouts had their suspicions about Penn State quarterback Anthony Morelli before he showcased his pro potential at the East-West Shrine Game on Saturday.
They saw his big body with the even bigger arm. But would he be accurate? He's a good kid, they say. But could he flourish against complex, athletic defenses in the professional ranks?
After going 2-for-10 with two interceptions and no touchdowns against the West defense Saturday, Morelli didn't destroy his draft stock. Ourlads.com draft analyst Dan Shonka just called his performance an example of "suspicions confirmed."
Before the game, Shonka, a former NFL scout for 16 years, had Morelli ranked as a late-round to priority free agent prospect. After his lackluster showing in the postseason all-star event, most scouts still see Morelli the same way: a player with physical tools who couldn't put it all together and wow them at the collegiate level.
Most likely, he'll get a shot in an NFL training camp after all the drafted players hear their name called in the 2008 NFL draft.
"He's a longshot [to get drafted]," Shonka said. "But there are always exceptions to the rule. It only takes one quarterbacks coach to think he can work with [Morelli]."
In the 2007 NFL Draft, 11 college quarterbacks were drafted, and it would be hard for Morelli to crack that group this year, considering his collegiate reputation.
A five-star recruit, Morelli leaves Penn State as the only quarterback in school history to pass for 2,000 yards in two consecutive seasons
But back-to-back 9-4 seasons and no BCS bowl bids mired his reputation in the eyes of many.
When Morelli threw an interception into double coverage Saturday, one of two picks the Penn State quarterback tossed to Oklahoma defensive back Marcus Walker, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said, "That is really a microcosm of Morelli's career right there."
In a postgame list on ESPN.com of five players whose draft stock was hurt by the Shrine Game, McShay listed Morelli No. 1.
Shonka is currently at the Senior Bowl, where many first-round prospects, including Penn State linebacker Dan Connor, are trying to improve their draft position.
One of the quarterbacks participating is Delaware's Joe Flacco. Flacco was originally selected to play in the East-West Shrine Game before being called up to the Senior Bowl ahead of Morelli and others.
Flacco, a former Pittsburgh quarterback who transferred down to the Football Championship Subdivision, is currently ranked as draft expert Mel Kiper Jr.'s No. 3 quarterback. That ranking situated him to take the place of Boston College's Matt Ryan and Louisville's Brian Brohm, two projected first-round draft picks, when they pulled out of the Senior Bowl, a game that will be held this Saturday.
Morelli, on the other hand, might have to wait until Penn State's Pro Day in March to try and disprove any NFL scout's continued doubts about his abilities.
"It's going to be tough, because you like to see consistencies throughout a collegiate career," Shonka said. "That is usually what it takes to get it done in the National Football League."
