Lay In Wait -Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA

First Round Mock Draft Analyst William Yanish feels that he’s found a diamond in the rough. His name is Dorian Thompson-Robinson and he thinks that this kid could be special.

It’s that time of year, where everyone is looking for that dark horse quarterback (QB) prospect!

I have spent this entire offseason evaluating QBs. That is what I do, I dig up diamonds. You know, the ones that the media ignores.

So I would like to introduce you to mine…

This next prospect is not so much known by his given name Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but rather just by the initials DTR.

Watch out for the guys who go by a nickname

A five-year starter at UCLA that comes in at 6-foot-2, 203 pounds. While that may not sound like he’s an imposing physical force…

DTR is lightning in a bottle.

He’s taken out ranked teams like it’s no one’s business.

From #16 LSU in 2021 to #11 Utah and #15 Washington in 2022. He then lost by a field goal in a shootout with #7 USC also in 2022.

DTR can hang with the best of them – – and level of competition means something.

He sharpens weapons around him and helped make them stars (Tight End Greg Dulcich, Running back Zach Charbonnet, along with Wide Receivers Jake Bobo, and Kyle Phillips). You will know all of them soon enough.

DTR is a field general, gunslinger, and star all in one.

Does he have flaws?

Of course he does.

However, the question is when it gets down to the marrow, does he have what it takes?

The Yanish Report

DTR is a QB first.

All-out work ethic. Awesome football IQ. Passing is rather sporadic at times. Accuracy and ball placement suffer when feet aren’t set. Big arm strength. Throws well on the run. Very catchable ball. Great touch when needed. Footwork and mechanical improvements will temper his game. Improv is next level. Doesn’t force throws. Processing speed is exceptional. Takes what the defense gives him. Uptempo to the extreme, tires out defenses. Sees the field on all levels, at all times. Explosive running ability. Elusive. Gets down, doesn’t take unnecessary shots. Run, pass option (RPO) is prevalent. Excels extending plays.

This year’s Brock Purdy?

With DTR’s experience and evolution over his years of play, I see him as an easy dark horse candidate. I don’t care even if he is an older prospect, that is actually a plus in his case.

He offered to workout at different positions while preparing for the draft.

However, they wanted to see him at QB.

DTR will still come in as a backup, but there’s no way not to see him moving up. Denver, Tennessee, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington…it doesn’t matter. They’re all viable options. I feel that one of those general managers (GM) above is waiting to jump on him day two of the draft.

My BIG three questions

1. Will the speed of the NFL affect him, or will he affect the speed of the NFL?
2. Just how high is DTR’s ceiling, and how low is his floor?
3. Will he be selected by a well-built team, or a rebuilding team?

How DTR stacks up and game film reviewed

Draft Community Projection (nflmockdraftdatabase.com): Fifth-Round

My draft value: Third-Round

Pro comparison: QB Lamar Jackson

Game Film Reviewed:

UCLA ‘21

Oregon ’21

Washington ’22

Utah ’22

Oregon ’22

William Yanish III is a life long football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.