Getting past Kansas State and perhaps into the College Football Playoff is the immediate challenge for Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty. But another challenge -- getting past the stereotype that the Bears' shotgun offense hasn't prepared him well for the NFL -- could be even tougher.
"He puts up monster numbers in an offense that doesn't have a history of producing successful pro-style quarterbacks," an AFC area scout told NFL Media's Albert Breer. "He's a smart, high character player. Decent athlete, with a strong lower body, but I personally don't see him as a top prospect."
That scout compared Petty to the Green Bay Packers' Matt Flynn and the Arizona Cardinals' Drew Stanton -- not exactly household names.
"He's a big, athletic, smart kid, but he needs to develop (away) from a spread offense to have a chance," an NFC personnel executive told Breer. "Timing and accuracy are the concerns."
It's been a tough year for Petty, who endured a back injury at the beginning of the season and a concussion at the end of it. Somewhere along the way, he fell out of the Heisman Trophy race, though he's posted a strong season with 25 touchdown passes to only five interceptions. He has been cleared to play Saturday, and should eclipse 3,000 passing yards for the season against KSU Saturday as the Bears hope to find a way into the inaugural four-team college football playoff field.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter *@ChaseGoodbread*.