OVERVIEW
In 2014, selected second-team All-Pac-12, was a Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist, was named a team captain and started 13 games for the Bruins. Led the team with 10 rushing touchdowns. Became the first UCLA quarterback to win 9-plus games in three consecutive seasons. Finished his career as the all-time leader in UCLA history with 75 touchdowns and 11,677 total yards. Started every game in 2013 and was selected honorable mention All-Pac-12. Named Co-MVP of Sun Bowl. Became first player in school history to throw, catch and run for a touchdown in a game (vs. Utah). Selected honorable mention All-Pac-12 as 14-game starter in 2012, setting school records for completions, passing yards and total offense. Named Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year in 2009 at Chandler High School. Named SuperPrep Farwest Offensive Player of the Year.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Well-built with frame sturdy enough to handle rigors of the position. Asked to get through progressions and make decisions. Willing to stand in and take the hit when he zeroes in on his target. Willing to get take downfield shot and give his receiver a chance to make the play. Has the ability to maneuver inside of pocket to buy time. Poised enough from pocket. Has adequate release and enough arm when he sits down on his throws. Above-average foot quickness to escape pocket. Hit 57-yard playaction touchdown from under center against Washington in 2014 (just seven attempts under center all year). Good sense of pocket pressure and is decisive when he decides to bolt. Dangerous as a runner with enough speed to hit a big play on the ground. Dual-threat ability increases his effectiveness in red zone. Displays his toughness almost every time out.
WEAKNESSES
Hasn't shown an ability to win from the pocket yet. Protected by playaction-based short passing game that held linebackers and cornerbacks at bay. Internal clock is a mess. Has marginal anticipation, and appears to be lacking in ability to read defenses and create a pre-snap plan. Slow getting through progressions, taking 125 sacks in three years. Inconsistent weight transfer on throws, which affects accuracy (throws sail) and velocity. Needs to reset feet when swiveling from side to side while scanning for next target. Gets crowded in pocket rather than sliding to open space. Short-arms too many throws. Ineffective, inaccurate passer outside of pocket with lowest completion percentage in Pac-12 when scrambling (32.6 percent). Misses opportunities to climb pocket while keeping eyes downfield rather than taking off as a runner.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Round 4 or 5
SOURCES TELL US
"Someone will draft him, but I don't think he will ever be a starter. He can't read coverages and struggles to process. It is going to take a few years before he looks like a backup in my opinion. He has a long way to go." -- AFC area scout
NFL COMPARISON
Jason Campbell
BOTTOM LINE
Hundley flashes athleticism and talent, but his basic quarterbacking issues will take time to improve. In 2014, more than 54 percent of his pass attempts were from six yards and in, including 29 percent from behind the line of scrimmage, which is nothing like an NFL offense. Hundley is a "flash" prospect who shows the physical tools to be a starter, but his internal clock and issues with reads and progressions must be improved to give him a shot at becoming a decent NFL starter.
CBS
STRENGTHS: Good-sized athlete with ideal height and a thick lower body...not an easy player to tackle and will deliver hits, running with power - stout frame to brush off contact in the pocket and as a ballcarrier...athletic footwork and flexible body control to move like a much smaller athlete...uses his legs effectively to pick up positive yards or move the pocket with natural instincts as a scrambler and the acceleration to erase pursuit angles.
Nice job stepping into his throws with easy arm strength to spin a pretty ball to all levels of the field - able to generate unforced velocity...quick set-up, rhythm and delivery motion...comfortable operating from a clean pocket with an even-keeled, calm demeanor...improved understanding of situational football...nice job selling play fakes and works his mannerisms well...durable and plays through pain (dealt with minor ankle and elbow injuries), starting every game of his career (40 career starts)...mature leader for his age with a gutsy demeanor even if it doesn't appear that way because of his reserved demeanor - voted team captain as a sophomore.
Wants to be great with the football passion and competitive drive needed for the NFL...career 29-11 record as a starter, becoming the first UCLA quarterback to produce at least nine wins in three straight seasons as a starter...leaves UCLA with the career records for touchdown passes (75), completions (837) and total offense (11,713) - finished second in school history in career passing yards (9,966) and rushing yards by a quarterback (1,747)...football bloodlines: father (Brett Sr.) played running back at Arizona.
WEAKNESSES: Poor pocket awareness and presence, struggling to decipher and recognize pressures...drops his eyes early and allows defenders to disrupt his tempo, struggling to manage the pocket and stare down the gun barrel, especially with interior pressures...too easily rattled and doesn't play with consistent confidence in the pocket...needs to develop his internal clock, holding the ball too long and allowing the pocket to swallow him up.
Struggles to reset his feet and eyes once moved from initial spot...doesn't show much anticipation at this point in his development, usually waiting for his target to come open before delivering...questionable processing speed with gun-shy tendencies, not challenging tight coverages...too methodical at times and doesn't read blitzes to speed up his process...needs to quicken his eyes and expand his vision...downfield ball placement isn't a strength with most of his completions coming on throws under 10 yards on screens, quick slants and swing passes...poor ball security with 29 career fumble the last three seasons.
COMPARES TO: Randall Cunningham, ex-Eagles: Hundley possesses a combination of size, athleticism, grace and arm strength reminiscent of the former Pro Bowler Cunningham.
IN OUR VIEW: On the surface, Hundley's skill-set seems every bit as tantalizing as Oregon's Marcus Mariota or Florida State's Jameis Winston. However, Hundley needs to improve in the critical subtleties of the quarterback position - pocket presence, reading defenses and ball placement.
--Dane Brugler & Rob Rang
PLAYER OVERVIEW
With dual-threat quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick leading their respective clubs to the Super Bowl the past three years, NFL teams may be growing more comfortable with the idea of highly athletic passers now than ever before. That's music to the ears of Hundley, whose graceful running and deep ball proficiency could earn him a surprisingly high grade come spring.
Coming out of Chandler, Ariz., Hundley was the first UCLA quarterback recruit to earn a five-star rating (scout.com). As a senior, he completed 139 of 225 passes for 2,348 yards, 20 touchdowns and two interceptions, while also leading the team in rushing with 856 yards (7.0 avg.) and nine touchdowns.
Hundley redshirted under Rick Neuheisel in 2011 but looked the part of a future blue-chip NFL prospect in guiding the Bruins to the Pac-12 South championship a year later with coach Jim Mora. Hundley threw for a school-record 3,740 passing yards, including 29 touchdowns against just 11 interceptions in his first season.
He followed that up with similar production the next two seasons, watching his completion percentage raise each year and his interceptions drop. Despite leaving with a year of eligibility remaining, Hundley is UCLA's all-time leader with 11,713 total yards and 75 touchdown passes against just 25 interceptions - only five of which came in 2014.
The concern with Hundley is that statistics aside, he appears much the same now as he did two years ago. He still has a tendency to drop his eyes and become a running back once he feels a pass rush rather than remaining poised in the pocket and keeping his passing options open. To achieve success in the NFL, there is no question that he'll need to improve in this area.
Given the steep drop-off in talent following Florida State's Jameis Winston and Oregon's Marcus Mariota, however, teams could see Hundley as a relative value with plenty of upside to develop. It has been a long time since a Bruins' quarterback has excited scouts. The last UCLA quarterback drafted, in fact, was Cade McNown, whom the Chicago Bears selected in the first round in 1999.
