All-Star Bowl season is here, and invitations are beginning to be sent across the country for all of the All-Star games played through January and February, where prospects showcase their skills and talents in front of NFL general managers and scouts. The first Senior Bowl invitation has been accepted, and it’s none other than quarterback Michael Pratt from Tulane. Pratt’s been on NFL radars ever since he became the starter at Tulane. Still, he had an awe-inspiring performance to open the 2021 season against Oklahoma as a true sophomore, almost willing the Green Wave back into the game against the Sooners.
Let’s get into his game a little bit.
QB Michael Pratt, Tulane Green Wave
HT: 6025
WT: 220
DOB: 9/30/2001
Year: Super Junior
High School: Deerfield Beach (Deerfield Beach, FL)
HS Rating: 3 star (83.37)
Phil Steele: PS#82
Michael Pratt is reportedly an old-school leader with intangibles off of the charts. He’s missed five games over the course of his four seasons as a starter at Tulane and should end his career with 45 career starts.
Michael Pratt: Quarterbacking Ability
Arm Talent
- Arm strength is above average. He can push the ball downfield but lacks velocity at the end of his throw beyond 30 yards. Pushes the ball to the boundaries very well and with relative ease.
- Throws a beautiful touchball.
- His release point is low and can be deflected at the LOS. He tends to be a bit extended, especially when he tries to throw with touch.
Accuracy/Placement
- Typically, he’s pretty accurate. He struggles with consistency downfield. Deep ball accuracy is all over the place.
- Placement can be good, but struggles with consistency. He doesn’t see coverages all of the time and can put the ball into bad spots. Flashes extraordinary placement.
Platform/Poise
- Maneuvers the pocket decently well. Can get away from pressure and work through it decently well.
- His platform overall is inconsistent. I want to see him be more consistent with his plant angle, sometimes wide when under pressure. Overall inconsistent.
- Food speed is good, and he gets through his drops adequately.
Michael Pratt: Atleticism & Intelligence
Mobility
- Pratt is not incredibly effective at throwing outside of the pocket. He takes his eyes off the play downfield and looks to run.
- Pratt has decent mobility – not a great runner, but very capable. He’s a decent scrambler who won’t be looking to run unless it’s his last option. He has some power and is difficult to bring down and can gash defenses if they aren’t ready for him.
Intelligence
- It doesn’t look like he can get through more than 1-2 reads right now. He doesn’t read coverage as well as I’d like to see and struggles to see defenders underneath. He has a key defender that he reads in the scheme and throws off his reaction.
Overview
Michael Pratt is one of the better quarterbacks in this class once you start looking at the deep senior group coming out this season, including Michael Penix, Bo Nix, Spencer Rattler, and several others, positioned firmly in that tier below Caleb Williams and Drake Maye. While he doesn’t have the physical tools that some of these other prospects I have listed do, he’s efficient enough to be a capable backup initially in a West Coast or heavy zone run scheme, using his mobility to extend plays and further developing his football intelligence.
What we want to see in Mobile
- How quickly does he pick up the playbook during the practices? Want to see him show some general football intelligence and make good reads throughout the week in practice.
- Compare him to the other quarterbacks he’s working with. Where are his mechanics compared to them? Where is his foot speed? It looks like he can be deliberate and extended through his release. I W=want to see him next to other quarterbacks.
Pre-Senior Bowl Draft Projection: 3rd/4th Round
Roster Projection: Career Backup Quarterback
