Toreros quarterback Anthony Lawrence has a TON of game tape. USD’s all-time leading passer has played for four years. If someone wants to know what his game looks like, it’s not hard to find.
So what was Lawrence trying to prove to the assembled NFL scouts at San Diego’s Pro Day on Thursday?
“I wanted to show them arm strength, first and foremost, and just let them know that I can make any throw that there is,” said Lawrence.
The Grossmont High School alum did that and more. Lawrence has always been accurate. In his collegiate career he completed 66% of his passes, which puts him in the top-20 passers in the nation. On Pro Day he did not have one single ball hit the ground while showing off more zip on his passes than most people anticipated.
Everything looked good for Lawrence … except one thing he cannot control.
“I was hoping to measure a little taller but that is what it is,” said Lawrence. “I thought I might get 6’3”. I only got 6’0” but that’s just how it goes.”
This is where the great NFL QB debate goes haywire.
Lawrence is taller than Kyler Murray, who is in the conversation to be the top overall pick in the Draft. Lawrence is about the same size as Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, both Super Bowl winning quarterbacks. But for some reason, despite throwing for 12,628 yards in his career, Lawrence has to fight just to get an NFL team to invite him to a rookie mini-camp.
“I just want to get a ball in my hands and put some pads on and be able to go play football,” said Lawrence. “Training is a blast and working out for Pro Day is fun but I love football. My goal is to get into a camp and throw the ball around, get in some pads 11-on-11, get hit a couple of times get up and do it again.”
There were 14 teams watching Anthony’s workout:
Jets
Giants
Bucs
Packers
Browns
49ers
Vikings
Broncos
Panthers
Lions
Patriots
Cowboys
Texans
Chargers
Lawrence’s performance at Pro Day just might have been enough to sway one of them to give him the chance he’s looking for. If not, he at worst earned himself a look in the Alliance of American Football, the XFL, the Freedom Football League or the Canadian Football League … places looking for talented, overlooked players who want to prove just how good they can be.
