Washington Football QB Jake Browning Playing For NFL Contract

Washington Football quarterback Jake Browning is coming off a stellar season that launched the Huskies into the national spotlight. But this season he has greater incentive to excel. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knows that he’s playing for an NFL contract.

Washington Football emerged in 2016.  And quarterback Jake Browning is the unsung hero of the 2016 Washington Huskies Football season. Despite injury in the season, the Folsom California quarterback passed for 3,430 yards and 43 touchdowns to just nine interceptions.

Unfortunately for the Huskies, two interceptions came in the lone regular season loss to the USC Trojans.  And two more came in the other loss came at the hands of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Still, he is a true competitor who does not make excuses, simply intensifies the focus and gets stronger. Better. More determined.

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This will be his junior season, the third of four years of NCAA eligibility.  But there is a catch to all of that.  You see, juniors can complete their NCAA season and forego the last year of eligibility.  That bodes well for the NFL.  In the case of Jake Browning, it means the Huskies may go back to the drawing board on offense.

Get Better Jake

So how can he improve on his sophomore season?  Simple. Get better. Literally.

I say that knowing that Browning played with injury last year. In fact, he’s already on the road back to full strength.

On one hand, he is surrounded by offensive weapons. He’ll have choices to make you see. Does he hand off the ball to running back Myles Gaskin, and let him thunder through the hole?  Should he flip the ball out to wide receiver Chico McClatcher to sweep to the side? Or does he hurl the ball into the outstretched arms of wide receiver Dante Pettis to move the chains?

Decisions, decisions.

On the other hand, even the offensive line is stacked solid.  Led by left tackle Trey Adams, this is a veteran line determined to protect their quarterback. With playoff experience under their belts, this is a battle tested corps too.

Heisman Hullabaloo

In summary, there is already talk of Jake Browning in competition for the Heisman Trophy this year.  In fact, a well written article from Sports Illustrated’s Chris Johnson covered some top names in the running this year.  Those names include:

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1. Sam Darnold, QB, USC;
2. Baker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma;
3. Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville; and
4. Saquon Barkley, RB, Penn State.

He also includes honorable mentions  J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State; Deondre Francois, QB, Florida State; Derrius Guice, RB, LSU; Mason Rudolph, QB, Oklahoma State; Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia.

All in all, the Heisman Trophy is as much perception as statistics.  That is to say, it’s a matter of optics.   In short, the leaders fall to who is the buzz about.

While Browning is more blue collar than the bright lights performer, he will be a solid candidate simply due to the incredible accurate throwing arm.  And he’s competing in the PAC-12, a nationally recognized NCAA football conference as highly competitive.

Tempted By That NFL Draft

If Jake Browning has the type of year he is capable of, he will be lured by the calling of the NFL Draft.  In a recent article of Six Washington Huskies joining the pros via the 2018 NFL Draft, I noted that Jake Browning is “itching to have a breakout season”.

Despite leading the Washington Football team into the NCAA playoffs, Jake Browning gets lets notice from the national media than USC quarterback Sam Darnold.  In fact, for a returning quarterback who hurled 43 touchdowns to just nine picks, he is nearly overlooked by the national sports media.

That should put a chip on his shoulder.  As a matter of fact, it places a chip on my shoulder just writing about it.

Now then, an incredibly talented quarterback on a very talented team with a chip on his shoulder can only mean one thing.  A breakout season.  But should he have a great year?  That NFL Draft will come a’ calling.

Browning Pays It Forward

In a recent article, I placed Browning on the hot seat in another article detailing five steps the Huskies must do to repeat as PAC-12 Champs.  In that article, I note that Browning must throw for over 3,500 yards this season.  That doesn’t seem to be too far of a reach after a 3,430 yard season while injured.  However, it does take a new perspective in light of wide receiver John Ross taking his blazing speed , 1150 yards and 17 touchdowns to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Even now, the team features wide receivers Dante Pettis and Chico McClatcher.  But the team has new talent.  And so, it will be up to Browning and new receivers coach Matt Lubbick to develop those new receivers.  In summary, Browning will shoulder the responsibility to bring new receivers into the fold.  Even as he works with them in practice and in games, each receiver will prepare to step up in crucial moments in games.

After all, Browning is essentially playing the NCAA equivalent of his contract year.  Do well, and millions awaits.  Fall short, and no lucrative NFL contract.

But as that thought sinks in, don’t fret about the Washington Football team. You can bet that head Coach Chris Petersen has already anticipated the likelihood of losing Browning to the NFL. As a matter of fact, he has doubled down with two top nationally ranked quarterbacks in the recruiting class of 2018.

Next: WCWS Washington Huskies Falls To Florida Gators 5-2

In summary, the Washington Football is not only okay with Jake Browning playing lights out to get the NFL’s attention.  As a matter of fact, the team is counting on it.