In a 2024 NFL Draft quarterback class that lacks depth in the Day 3 range, could UCF’s John Rhys Plumlee be a hidden gem with his scouting report? Let’s take a closer look at his traits and see what he has to offer.
John Rhys Plumlee Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’0″
- Weight: 200 pounds
- Position: Quarterback
- School: UCF
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
At the very least, Plumlee may be one of the most intriguing QB prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. Plumlee played outfielder for the UCF Knights’ baseball team in 2023 while also prepping to play QB, and his talent spans all the way back to his high school days.
As a high school recruit, Plumlee was a four-star talent and a top 300 national player on ESPN’s board. Even before he could benefit from a collegiate training program, Plumlee’s athleticism set him apart — evidenced by his 4.61 40-yard dash and 34.4″ vertical in 2019.
As a true freshman, Plumlee’s athleticism led him to start eight games, and in that span, his playmaking ability was an asset. He ran the ball 154 times for 1,023 yards and 12 touchdowns that year, earning Freshman All-American recognition from various outlets.
Over the next couple of years, however, Lane Kiffin and the Rebels gravitated to 2022 third-round pick Matt Corral as a more capable passer in Ole Miss’ offense and experimented with scheming Plumlee touches as a runner and receiver.
In 2021, Plumlee caught 19 passes for 201 yards, but he ultimately chose to transfer to UCF ahead of the 2022 season.
At UCF, Plumlee’s running ability once again became an asset, but he also sustained more production as a passer. Across a two-year stretch with the Knights, he completed 379 of 602 attempts (63%) for 4,857 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions while also running for 1,367 yards and 16 scores on 265 carries.
Plumlee’s late-career production got his name on the 2024 NFL Draft board and earned him an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl. But is there enough on tape for him to be a potential Day 3 selection?
Plumlee’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Elite creative threat with springy athleticism and instant explosiveness in the open field.
- Has brisk agility and legitimate vertical speed at the second level, extending runs.
- Has a decent arm for his size and can drive passes over deep coverage and lead WRs.
- Possesses the arm elasticity to layer pace and touch, and maintain velocity off-platform.
- Crisp rotational thrower with stellar mechanical efficiency and torque on rhythm passes.
- Baseball background affords him a loose, effortless release that channels torque well.
- Able to lead short targets away from contact in the torso region, maximizing RAC.
- Has shown he can use controlled shoulder tilt to add loft on deep passes and aid WRs.
- Flashes exceptional precision and control on lofted bucket throws to the boundary.
- Able to read defender leverage on 1-on-1 deep passes and place passes accordingly.
- Has shown to sense backside pressure, flow to the flats, and keep plays alive.
- Has some discretion as a passer and won’t often force throws when nothing’s there.
- Can anchor an option and misdirection offense with his athleticism and ball handling.
- Tough competitor who sells out on runs, finishes forward, and willingly blocks for RBs.
- Has a versatile background as a runner and receiver.
Weaknesses
- Is below average size for a QB and lacks great mass.
- As a creator, lack of high-end mass limits his contact balance and play strength.
- Doesn’t have the degree of arm strength to maintain pace on off-platform loft throws.
- Can be flat-footed at the top of drops, which can impact freedom of motion stepping up.
- Sometimes exhibits a heel click at the top of his drop, which can lock out hip rotation.
- At times, can do a better job of stepping up in the pocket and rolling his base on throws.
- Sometimes elongates his base width too far out of play-fakes, requiring correction.
- Can be too quick to flow out the back of the pocket and rely on his creation ability.
- Is more of an areal thrower at times and can improve overall situational precision.
- Sometimes stares down initial reads, which can key in defenders and limit space.
- Can be indecisive when working across progressions and needs more high-end anticipation.
- Inconsistent trigger can delay response time against pressure and put the ball at risk.
- Struggled expanding beyond one-read throws and scripted plays on offense.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Plumlee grades out as a late-round and potential PFA prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft. It’s more likely that he sneaks into the PFA pool, but he should garner plenty of interest as a camp QB, who could ultimately earn a long-term place on a practice squad and third quarterback in an NFL rotation.
Plumlee’s athleticism and arm talent are at the center of his evaluation. His athleticism allowed him to flourish as a runner and option threat all across his career, and his arm elasticity — sourced from his combined football and baseball background — allows him to expand throwing windows and layer pace and touch on throws.
John Rhys Plumlee arriving in the @Big12Conference like…pic.twitter.com/lBqSYA0vnb
— College Football Network (@CFN365) July 4, 2023
Plumlee could have better arm strength, but there’s more than enough arm talent to work with, and his ability as a creator adds an extra dimension to his offense.
On the flip side, as a pure passer, Plumlee may always be a bit limited. He’s over-reliant on his creation ability to a fault, and he doesn’t have the high-level anticipation or processing to take on substantial reps at the NFL level.
Nevertheless, Plumlee does have solid rotational mechanics and risk-averse tendencies. He also flashes exceptional situational precision when he’s able to maintain synergy.
As a low-cost late-round pick or PFA, Plumlee has tools worth investing in as a versatile QB3.
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