Cal coach Sonny Dykes freely admits size will be the concern that most NFL scouts will have about his star quarterback, Jared Goff (6-foot-4, 215 pounds), when the Golden Bears junior enters either the 2016 or 2017 NFL Draft. But when it comes to character, Dykes said Goff will get a clean evaluation.
And he took something of a swipe at 2015 No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston in praising Goff.
"... There's not one single skeleton in his closet. He's all the stuff that you want. He's never stolen crab legs, any kind of that stuff," Dykes told Sports Illustrated. "You don't have to worry about all that with him."
Winston, who was chosen by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the top pick, had his character scrutinized by NFL clubs like few before him. The former Heisman Trophy winner and Florida State star was accused of sexual assault, but criminal charges were not brought against him after an investigation. He was suspended for the Clemson game last season for shouting a vulgarity while he was inside the FSU student union. Prior to that, he was suspended from the FSU baseball team for shoplifting crab legs from a Publix grocery store in Tallahassee, Fla. Although the alleged sexual assault was undoubtedly the central subject of his character evaluation, it was the crab legs theft that became something of a punchline for Winston's critics.
More than a year later, Dykes made it a punchline once again. But his larger point was about Goff, who has led Cal to a 3-0 start and completed 73 percent of his passes so far this year. Before the season began, NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein rated Goff among the top quarterbacks in the college game. His release is quick, his arm is strong, but -- oh, yeah -- he's a little on the small side.
"He does some stuff I've never seen anybody do before," Dykes said. "He gets the ball out so quick. He sees things. He's got all the stuff. Physically, he's still real skinny, and when [NFL scouts] get around him, they're going to go, 'Am I really going to give this guy $100 million?' Other than that, there's not one negative thing you can say about the guy. He's humble, he's hardworking and loves football."
A clean reputation, all the physical skills, and a slight build? Sounds a lot more like this year's No. 2 overall pick, Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
