The college journey of quarterback Kedon Slovis went from being a freshman phenom at USC to finishing his fifth collegiate season on his third different team.
The early flashes of potential stardom dimmed as Slovis’ career progressed, making him an interesting case study entering the NFL.
Here’s everything you need to know about Slovis and his evaluation as a prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft.
How Tall Is Kedon Slovis?
Slovis is a 6’2” quarterback, who falls into the 33rd percentile when directly comparing his height to the other QB prospects in this class.
Despite not possessing what many would consider the ideal frame to operate and scan the defense from within the pocket over traditionally tall offensive linemen at the pro level, Slovis certainly has enough verticality to comfortably perform his duties in today’s NFL, where shorter quarterbacks are becoming a bit more acceptable across the league.
How Much Does Slovis Weigh?
Slovis’ weight is a bit more in the prototypical range at 223 pounds, which puts him in the 54th percentile at the position. His 4.55-second 40-yard dash (94th percentile) at the NFL Combine suggests he’s a very capable mover when at top speed, but his combined rushing production through all five years of his career is -259 yards.
MORE: Top QBs in the 2024 NFL Draft
This suggests Slovis’ weight is more functional to operate within the pocket rather than something he relies upon to add extra value as a dual-threat player entering the NFL.
How Old Is Slovis?
After spending five years in college, Slovis will enter his rookie season at 23 years old. Despite a lengthier stay at the college level, he’s still the fifth-youngest QB prospect in this class behind Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, J.J. McCarthy, and Michael Pratt.
What School Did Slovis Go To?
Slovis has been the equivalent of a veteran journeyman during his collegiate career.
Originally, Slovis started his career at USC and spent his first three seasons there. Once Lincoln Riley arrived as the Trojans’ new head coach, Slovis transferred to Pittsburgh to replace Kenny Pickett under center.
After spending one year with the Panthers, Slovis played one season with the BYU Cougars in 2023 to finish out his college career.
Revisiting Slovis’ College Career
If exceptional success as a true freshman in college were the only criteria for ranking quarterback prospects entering the NFL, Slovis would have a strong QB1 overall case.
In 2019, Slovis tore up the Pac-12 as the Trojans’ signal-caller with 3,502 yards and 30 TDs straight out of high school.
The COVID-19-shortened 2020 season took some of the wind out of his sails with just 1,921 yards and 17 TDs over his six games played, but Slovis was still on a similar per-game trajectory in his true sophomore campaign.
Unfortunately, the 2021 season is where things started to unravel for Slovis. Over nine games, Slovis produced just 2,153 yards and 11 TDs with eight INTs in his final season as the starting quarterback at USC.
Slovis transferred to Pitt ahead of the 2022 season, which did not see him take a step in the right direction from a production standpoint. He threw for 2,397 yards, 10 TDs, and nine INTs over his 11 games as a true senior.
Slovis gained one more year of eligibility ahead of the 2023 season, with which he transferred to BYU in one last attempt to recapture the magic of his true freshman excellence.
Over his final eight games at the collegiate level, Slovis threw for 1,716 yards and 12 TDs with just six INTs, which was an improvement from his previous season but fell markedly short of his exceptional production in 2019.
Slovis’ Potential in the NFL
The Slovis case study is one that is a bit perplexing.
His outstanding production as a freshman at USC garnered a proper amount of buzz and excitement about his future potential as an NFL prospect, yet his drop in production was staggering as his career progressed, leaving us with a talented player who hasn’t given NFL scouts confidence he will ever recapture the magic of his early success.
Slovis’ familiarity with running pro-style concepts is nice, his throwing mechanics are consistently fluid, and he flashes with layered throws with appropriate touch and eye manipulation of defenders, which are present on the tape.
Unfortunately, Slovis’ arm talent is less than ideal, pressure seems to drastically impact his footwork consistency and decision-making, and his post-snap processing can be erratic.
Slovis’ lack of elite physical tools and development through his extensive time as a starting quarterback in college likely make him a Day 3 prospect in the best-case scenario, with a stronger likelihood he becomes a priority free agent later this month.
Looking for everything you need on the 2024 NFL Draft? Make sure to check out the latest draft results, overall team grades, and updated best remaining players available at every position!