Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 224 pounds
School: North Dakota State Bison
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.62 seconds (third-best among quarterbacks)
Vertical jump: 33.5 inches (tied for third-best among quarterbacks)
Broad jump: 9 feet, 10 inches (third-best among quarterbacks)
Three-cone drill: 6.65 seconds (best among quarterbacks)
20-yard shuttle: 4.05 seconds (best among quarterbacks)
Easton Stick 2019 NFL Draft Profile
If there’s an FCS program whose dominance at that level resembles what Alabama and Clemson have recently accomplished in FBS, it’s North Dakota State. Since 2011, the Bison have won seven of the eight national titles on offer. Perhaps the most prominent player associated with that unprecedented run of success is Carson Wentz. After helping lead NDSU to two of those titles as the starting quarterback during 2014 and 2015, the Philadelphia Eagles eventually selected Wentz with the number two overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft. The young man who succeeded him behind center for the Bison was Easton Stick.
The Omaha, NE native was a two-year starter at Creighton Prep and functioned in a dual-threat capacity. In addition to his 37 career passing touchdowns, Stick also accounted for 950 yards rushing and 23 scores on the ground. Stick received some interest from FBS schools including a Big Ten scholarship offer from Rutgers. But having the chance to maintain a standard of excellence that Wentz established prompted him to make the journey north to Fargo.
After redshirting, Stick showcased flashes of game-changing potential when he replaced an injured Wentz and promptly won all eight of his starts. A year later, he firmly entrenched himself as the starter and became the first Bison sophomore in over a decade to be named a team captain. He would go on to make 44 starts over the next three seasons and led the team to national titles in 2017 and 2018. His 8,693 passing yards, 88 touchdown throws, 11,216 yards of total offense, and 129 total touchdowns are all school records. And he finished with 49 career wins which rank first in FCS history.
Strengths
- an unquestioned leader with impressive intangibles;
- worked within the framework of pro-style concepts in college;
- tailor-made for usage in RPO game;
- adept at hitting receivers in stride on intermediate throws;
- can make accurate throws on the run outside the tackles;
- a dual-threat improviser who can make would-be tacklers miss;
- tested very favorably at the Combine.
Weaknesses
- many scouts will cite his height as a concern;
- arm strength isn’t particularly eye-popping;
- accuracy is a bit erratic on touch throws;
- his eyes give defensive backs cues on where the ball’s going;
- needs to become less of a primary read thrower;
- too often forces the issue and throws into double coverage;
- didn’t help his draft stock at the East-West Shrine Game.
NFL Comparison: Chase Daniel
Teams With Need at Position: Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins
Projection: Sixth to seventh round
Bottom Line
Though it did come against a lower level of competition, Stick has quite an impressive track record having played a significant role on three title-winning teams. He’s a natural leader who should provide a galvanizing presence in the locker room. Much like Wentz, the type of scheme he operated in at NDSU makes him fairly pro-ready. He showed flashes of accuracy at times and he’s capable of moving the chains with his feet if the pocket breaks down.
Having said all that, many teams will have concerns over his size. Though he isn’t afraid to chuck it deep, a lot of his passes down the field fall short of their target which will give defensive backs with above-average ball skills easy pickings. He might need some adjusting to the much higher level of competition compared to what he faced in college. And his decision-making vis-a-vis throwing the ball into tight spaces also needs to improve.
If Stick can refine his weak points while building upon what he already does well, there’s certainly a future for him in the league. His accuracy issues and arm strength may inhibit his ceiling, but his ability to extend plays are among the characteristics that elevate his floor. Stick’s arrival in an NFL training camp this summer should augment the back end of the roster at the quarterback position.
