ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 02: Tulane Green Wave quarterback Michael Pratt (#7) tries to break away from USC Trojans defensive back Max Williams (#4) during the Goodyear Cotton Bowl game between the USC Trojans and Tulane Green Wave on January 02, 2023 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Tulane’s Michael Pratt: A Purdy Darn Good QB

October 16, 2023 | William Yanish | Articles

Reading Time: 3 minutes

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 02: Michael Pratt #7 of the Tulane Green Wave in action against the University of Southern Alabama at Yulman Stadium on September 02, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

A look at a quarterback (QB), Tulane’s Michael Pratt…but first something to ponder.

Throughout all of this football stuff that’s out there, sometimes you have to ask yourself why a prospect is at a small school program?

Especially one who is getting press.

What makes that player stand out? Were there offers from any SEC programs or other large platform institutions?

There are only so many NFL-caliber QBs running around throughout college football. The question is why do some fall through the cracks? Who decides which ones get hyped and which ones are left out in the cold?

Quarter-Pratt

Some players absolutely love the game and will show off their talents no matter where they end up in life. Tulane QB Michael Pratt Jr. looks like that guy. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, he’s a rock-solid built prospect.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1712982193189060919

This year, Pratt has missed some time due to injury, but despite that, he has a perfect 4-0 record so far, throwing for 927 total yards, nine touchdowns (TD) and just one interception (INT). Pratt has also accounted for two rushing TD.

Pratt is an experienced four-year leader and starter. He’s a warrior. Last year, under his lead, Tulane took out No. 10 ranked USC and the fabled QB Caleb Williams in the Cotton Bowl.

Just sitting here watching a live game while writing about a player is like living in a dream. Pratt and his Green Wave are leading Memphis 31-21 halfway through the fourth quarter as I write this.

Fast-forward, rewind, and slow motion with a clicker in my hand will make for a great picture to be painted.

The Yanish Report

Chiseled, marbled football body. Subtle fast twitch athlete. Calculated, deliberate footwork. Body movement and mobility is Brock Purdy-esque. Pocket rover. Sneaky, dangerous scrambling ability. Runs with a nasty TE disposition. Deadly accuracy. Off-platform throws, when needed, are on deck. The ball comes out quickly. Excellent ball security. Back-shoulder flicks are next to impossible to defend. NFL caliber arm talent. Receiver’s drops, drops, drops. Easily holds defenders off with next-level eye discipline. Will throw the ball away and live to play another down. The tush-push QB sneak is included in the package. Run-pass option (RPO) is absolutely dangerous. Not afraid to throw blocks. Pratt’s football IQ is splashed all over the television screen. Gunslinger. Pushes a cold-blooded, winning agenda. A star in the making. Poised. Deliberate.

For the win

Tulane runs a modern RPO offense with dangerous weapons all around. Losing running back (RB) Tyjae Spears to the Tennessee Titans through the draft last year did not slow down their offensive attack. However, what has slowed it down is I lost count of how many dropped touchdowns his receivers have had in 2022.

Pratt absolutely has the moxie and competitiveness to lead a much bigger program to the promised land. Placing him under center on an Alabama or Georgia team would set off some fireworks. Pratt uses every weapon at his disposal. This kid really has a chance to be special.

He is the closest to the next Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers that I have seen. The similarities between these two stars are uncanny. Pratt will be in the league for a long time.

The 2024 NFL Draft will be a pick-your-poison type of QB quandary. There will be some QBs that slide, including Pratt. That’s okay though, because that will relieve some of the pressure, like it did for Purdy.

My BIG three questions

1. How quickly will he battle his way into competing for playing time in the NFL?

2. Can he adjust his playing style to avoid injury at the next level?

3. Will he adjust his intermediate throws to avoid the occasional high misses?

How Pratt stacks up and game film reviewed

My 2024 NFL Draft Value: Third Round (High)

My pro-comparison: The next Brock Purdy

2022 Game Film Evidence (No. 7)

2023 (No. 7)

William Yanish III is a lifelong 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.