ESPN NFL Insider Mike Sando went to Orlando, Florida, to watch Jon Gruden's QB Camp tapings with seven draft-eligible quarterbacks. Below, Sando has written up Gruden's biggest takeaways from the interviews and throwing sessions -- in Gruden's voice.
Christian Hackenberg and Cardale Jones are in the spotlight Tuesday. Catch the TV specials starting at 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Five takeaways on Christian Hackenberg
1. I'll be shocked if Hackenberg is not a first-round pick
The biggest surprise to me on Hackenberg is that no one is really talking about him in the first round. This was the No. 1 prospect in the nation a few years ago and someone who showed during his freshman year he could produce at a high level in a true NFL-style offense. What he showed during that first year at Penn State -- before the coaching change, before the system change, before all the things that derailed him -- would be enough for me to take this guy early. This man can run a 4.7-second 40, he is tough as hell and he works relentlessly. He just has to get in the right system with the right people and refocus on the small details.
2. Memories are too short when it comes to this QB
Hackenberg threw for 3,000 yards as an 18-year-old kid in an NFL offense that is hard to execute. I do not think people are giving him enough credit for that. The alert signals they had when Bill O'Brien was coaching him were straight out of the New England Patriots playbook. You might see 12-15 alerts per game. The quarterback's control at the line of scrimmage was similar to the Patriots'. We all have seen Tom Brady point to his temples countless times at the line of scrimmage. They had the same alerts and mannerisms at Penn State. For a freshman to be given that type of autonomy at the line of scrimmage is unusual. When you see the same plays from the same formations that the Patriots are running, with the same audible mannerisms, you are like, "Wow, this is cool."