JASON VANDER LAAN IS A QUARTERBACK
by Marty, martyandmatt.com

Many scouts consider this a draft class that is rather light at the QB position. Once you get by Wenz, Goff and Lynch, it is indeed a crap shoot. Meanwhile, a Division II QB who won the Harlon Hill Trophy (the D-II Heisman) two years in a row may have to switch to tight end in order to make an NFL roster.

Jason Vander Laan of Ferris State is a quarterback.

He is big at 6-4 and 244 pounds. He is accurate with his throws completing 65.6% of his passes. Makes good decisions with the ball; throwing 27 touchdown passes with only 7 interceptions.

So what’s the problem? It appears that his ability to run with the ball has teams looking at him as a tight end. They are making a mistake.

Jason Vander Laan is a quarterback.

Vander Laan concluded his career at Ferris State as the all-time leading rusher among quarterbacks with 5,953 yards. He also was the first player in NCAA history to run and pass for 1,000 yards four consecutive seasons.

Think a very mobile Ben Roethlisberger

.

This kid is smart, tough and it will take far more than a glancing blow to bring him down. This is not a Tim Tebow situation where his throwing ability is in question. He is not a running QB, but a QB who can run.

He is durable, taking all but 33 snaps in 2015 and was sacked only 11 times in 12 games. He threw for 2625 yards and ran for 1542 yards and another 24 touchdowns. Three out of his four top receivers averaged 14.1 yards per reception and of those four, only one was taller than 5-9.

Of course, the level of completion will be called into question, but anyone who knows football knows the level of competition in the GLIAC.

Jason Vander Laan is a quarterback that teams should be considering as an heir-apparent or as a developmental quarterback. Once you get by the three quarterbacks previously mentioned isn’t the rest of the class simply that anyhow?

If you compare the talent, the success, the stats, and the accolades, none of them compare to Jason Vander Laan. He’s not a tight end or a long snapper.

Jason Vander Laan is a QUARTERBACK.