Episode Transcript
Transcripts are displayed as originally observed. Some content, including advertisements may have changed.
Use Ctrl + F to search
0:01
the voice of Husker Nation is on the
0:07
air. This is hail varsity radio
0:11
insight opinion expertise along
0:14
with the biggest names talking
0:16
Nebraska sports. Join in
0:20
with the show at 402489 12 40
0:24
or 180825 58 65. Now here is
0:30
the news. Back into a tail
0:32
bar city were powered by corn head logger.
0:34
Let's talk some NFL draft with the senior
0:36
rider for the sporting news. Bill
0:39
Bender back with his bill Bender 92
0:42
bill you making your way to Detroit or
0:44
is it the recliner for the draft man
0:46
should be a pretty good spectacle
0:49
Thursday. Thanks for the time. Oh
0:51
yeah. I think I'm be home and you
0:53
know we're kind of a draft
0:55
veteran there and sporting news. We just had our final
0:57
draft meeting. It's kind of a fun thing
0:59
to do. I run the same place every
1:01
year. We do the winners losers. We follow along.
1:03
We have on a ton of pre
1:07
draft content up for your listeners to
1:09
catch up on all those first round
1:11
decisions. A lot of
1:13
first round intrigue and you know
1:15
the quarterback class is always scrutinized and a
1:18
lot of good options. Is
1:20
it boomer bust with that
1:22
position deep wide receiver
1:24
draft. Tada offensive tackles some edge
1:27
and prime missing some of the
1:29
spots but you know the spots
1:31
that make the money and also
1:34
cause for sale signs to go in front
1:36
yard. So as you look at this as
1:38
much college football as you see and
1:40
use and you know what do
1:42
you make of this quarterback class just as a whole.
1:45
Well I mean you could have a couple of things. There's
1:48
two layers to this to me. There could be six quarterbacks
1:50
drafted in the first round. You can see J.J.
1:53
McCarthy a team like Minnesota trade up
1:55
for him. You could see Michael Pennington Bowe next
1:57
go in the first round. And
2:00
if you look at next year, and I'm cheating
2:03
by a day because we'll have this tomorrow, you
2:05
look at the top quarterbacks in next year's draft,
2:07
you might want to get your guy now. Because
2:11
next year we're going to be talking about Shador Sanders,
2:14
possibly Quinn Ewers, and
2:17
then a ton of guys that are going to
2:19
have to prove themselves next year. So
2:22
yeah, I mean, the five, six quarterbacks
2:24
go in the first round. You
2:26
have a chance you get four quarterbacks going the
2:28
first four picks. Bill
2:31
Bender with us here on ALVAR City Radio. And
2:33
Bill, when you talk about the quarterbacks here, is
2:35
the smoke around JJ
2:37
McCarthy that we've seen over the weekend potentially
2:40
going number two? Do you think that's real?
2:42
Do you think that's agents throwing that around?
2:44
Do you think that's teams throwing smokescreens? What's
2:47
your take on just the drama we've
2:49
seen with JJ McCarthy, at least according to the
2:51
sports books, his odds of going number two have
2:53
skyrocketed? Well, I mean, it could
2:55
happen. And you know, I've written a
2:57
lot about him, as you guys know, cover the Big
2:59
Ten pretty closely. And I have a
3:02
different opinion on McCarthy than most, because I
3:04
think it's worth it. I
3:06
saw a guy at Michigan, and you
3:08
guys know this from watching the Michigan-Nebraska
3:10
game last year, they didn't ask
3:13
him to do too much, but when they did, he
3:15
made plays. He made plays on
3:18
third down, he made plays on fourth down. He's
3:20
got those leadership qualities that NFL
3:22
pipes love. And you
3:24
know, I see him, and I'm
3:26
getting made fun of a little bit in
3:28
our office about this comparison, but I see
3:31
him as a guy that could have a
3:33
career that's very similar to Jim Harmel, who
3:36
on one hand was never the
3:38
best quarterback in the league. On
3:40
the other, he played 15 seasons. Kirk
3:44
Cousins asks what you say, is that the modern comparison?
3:47
That's not a bad comparison either. And if
3:49
you're getting Kirk Cousins, you can't say, hey,
3:52
that's bad. You know, the one I always use in
3:54
Texas, my buddies, I was like, you
3:56
can't say like Jay Cutler
3:58
and Andy Dalton had bad. NFL careers.
4:01
They played for a very long time.
4:03
They just didn't have success in the playoffs.
4:06
And, you know, McCarthy's a guy I
4:08
really like. And now would I take him over
4:10
those first three quarterbacks?
4:13
No, I wouldn't take him over Caleb or
4:15
Drake. I'd have
4:17
the internal conversation with Jaden, but
4:20
I still think I would take Jaden Daniels over him. Bill,
4:23
I'm a Bears guy, and obviously it's going to
4:25
be a big night on draft night for the
4:27
Bears with the first pick. I'm
4:29
curious about your thoughts regarding the ninth pick.
4:31
What direction do you think Chicago's going to
4:33
go there? Well, you
4:35
know, I'm a Packers guy, so I hope the wrong direction.
4:38
Should have seen that coming. Well played.
4:41
So, no, I think receiver, right? Is that
4:44
what you want? Is a, but which one
4:46
do you want? And there's no wrong answer.
4:48
So a couple interesting things here.
4:50
I've been reading today, you know, whether
4:52
it was from the athletic and talk
4:54
about it, that my week neighbors could
4:56
be the first receiver taken in this draft,
4:59
which I find very intriguing because
5:01
of this speed and what he was able to
5:03
do. If the Bears were some, would you be
5:05
most, I'll ask you this back. Would you be
5:07
most excited if the Bears somehow got
5:10
Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison out of this first
5:12
round? That's what I was going to follow up
5:14
with because there has been a lot of smoke
5:16
with Marvin Harrison Jr. I would personally be excited
5:18
about that just because I've watched a ton of
5:20
them him being in the big 10, just like
5:22
the whole J.J. McCarthy situation. But yeah,
5:24
that smoke is really interesting to me. And
5:27
as a Bears fan, I would be more than
5:29
okay with that happening. But you know, I think
5:32
any wide receiver that you can have at pick nine
5:34
is probably going to be in that upper echelon. Right.
5:37
And Rome can still be there in Rome,
5:39
not a consolation prize. He's really good. You
5:43
know, especially in the Kentucky catches could
5:45
form a dynamic connection with Caleb Williams. And, you
5:47
know, again, as a green Bay guy, I'm not
5:49
liking this, that Caleb is going to be in
5:52
the division and that J.J. McCarthy is going to
5:54
be in the division potentially because I like both
5:56
of those quarterbacks. You know, the other thing to
5:58
watch is who makes the move. It.
6:00
Promo: Make The Move. Or. Drink my
6:03
the North Carolina Quarterback That a. Continues.
6:06
Yelling. Probably rather two or
6:08
three range. I love direct major.
6:11
I do have a bias know because they are
6:13
a profile on him. Couple. Years ago
6:15
he had. Was wasn't until
6:17
you can tell he's and all both had
6:19
guy. Go
6:22
beyond Earth is your on He oversee radio talk
6:24
and some anatole draft in Bill Connors the. The.
6:27
Bears guy on the Broncos guy and I can
6:29
ask you about the Broncos I see to blame
6:31
for nothing rep for the draft. As whatever happens
6:33
happens we'll see Have already been beaten down by
6:35
the uniforms and Zach Wilson this week. Really type
6:38
of the Broncos anymore by do want to piggyback
6:40
on Congress Question your to think the Bears have
6:42
a really unique opportunity in this draft to build
6:44
something I like. The raw said they had the
6:46
can bring in a quarterback. they can bring in
6:48
a wide receiver one in Kennesaw. A happy whenever
6:50
the Texans are able to bring in a really
6:53
good quarterback last you want to ruin without a
6:55
roster that was closer than lot of other teams.
6:57
Taking the top five their playoff team. Not seen
6:59
The Bears You to be a playoff team next
7:01
year. bound to your thoughts on a team that
7:03
you think can really make a jump next season
7:05
if they're able to truly have a successful draft
7:07
to get a good properties. But. May
7:10
need. See what Detroit I think teams
7:12
by start fall under detroit model of
7:14
just. As aggressive and
7:16
taking who you want to take regardless
7:18
of what critics said dr like. We
7:20
kind of picked on the lions about
7:22
Akin. To. A mere and I. Jackhammer.
7:25
Last year and or Laporte a runoff from a
7:27
report I can new. He's gonna be alright. But.
7:31
Those. Guys were all contributors on Athena
7:33
played the Nfc Championship game last year
7:35
or take the see a little bit
7:37
of that. I'm. Very. Intrigued to
7:39
see what the Chargers do with Jim Harbaugh
7:42
and his first draft. And and that's the
7:44
team I'm kind of. I'm because. What?
7:47
Does he do to surround Justin Herbert? They
7:49
are the one team in the top five
7:51
that I can honestly say. I
7:53
really have no clue what it is
7:55
that comes from the experience of covering
7:57
Jim Harbaugh. What? i did you ever
7:59
tell You know, I know I don't have a
8:01
clue what he's gonna say and I was typically right on those
8:03
ones Bill let's
8:06
talk a minute here about
8:08
Caleb Williams a lot of flack leading
8:10
up to the draft things
8:12
have settled down a little bit and What
8:16
do you project him as in the league? Do
8:18
you look at him as a guy that's gonna
8:20
be? Pro bowler
8:22
better savior. Do you think all
8:25
right if he stays healthy really good starter
8:27
or Could be
8:30
an issue that that ends up on
8:33
Another team at some point is you
8:35
know, you're a mix. Well, it's it's
8:37
gonna happen Especially at quarterback
8:39
when you go number one overall. It's not
8:41
a Sure thing.
8:43
So three doors. Yeah, I
8:45
can't take credit for this comparison because my
8:48
editor Bill Trochi made it I can see
8:50
a career trajectory very similar to Cam Newton
8:52
and Super Bowl a
8:54
lot of reasons why remember we used to
8:56
dissect what Sam Newton wore to the press
8:58
conference every week I was always
9:01
annoyed by the story because I think it took away
9:03
from The talent that that
9:05
cam had on the field and he
9:07
made that run was the Panthers to the
9:09
Super Bowl and I remember how They rallied around
9:11
them. But when they first took him, you know,
9:14
you know, there was there was much more controversy
9:16
around him in college I don't think Caleb had
9:18
a controversy in college. No,
9:20
I mean we'll just people Want
9:22
to look at his fingernails and wanna you
9:25
know pick at his clothing choices, which I
9:27
really don't care about I can't
9:29
say whether NFL teams do or whether the guys
9:31
in the locker room Well, I don't think they
9:33
will because it comes down to winning football games
9:35
and making plays and and he can do that
9:37
and if he builds a If
9:40
he turns Chicago into a winner a
9:42
franchise that is so starved I
9:45
don't say that starved for quarterback play and all those
9:47
things He'll become
9:50
a celebrity instantly I'll
9:53
just say I made the comparison earlier. I see
9:55
a Work you season like CJ
9:57
stride for Caleb Blanton He's got good pieces
9:59
in Chicago You got way too much talent.
10:01
We'll. See how he fits into a locker?
10:04
Left handed a question to me I love
10:06
Caleb Williams else despite all that gets me
10:08
mountain the hi I didn't think Cj do
10:10
it. he did this soon but he was
10:12
asked if he was gray with out off
10:14
I'd love to run a time I said
10:17
less or the time I thought you go
10:19
number one but nobody listens to lies or
10:21
of snow here was to say and because
10:23
of the size of the accuracy that we
10:25
thought Ohio State and years that's one thing
10:27
Cj punch through that. Can. Go
10:30
and out on squarely. At.
10:32
Eleven The stigma they're still lives around
10:34
Ohio State, quarterbacks in the Nfl and.
10:36
Many go mad cow go down the list
10:39
but for some. You. Bees from your
10:41
see in recent season. Those guys like. The.
10:44
Get go back! Carson Palmer had a good career,
10:46
but I mean Donald. Liner. A
10:48
toddler. We go all the way back to
10:51
Todd Marinovich. that's not one you know so
10:53
he's gonna have to be that us the
10:55
quarterback that. Those. Shows up as a
10:57
first round Qb I think the pounds their
10:59
I like what he does the game in
11:01
our arms. Rough
11:03
season last year. Like that One concern I
11:05
would have been killed by and then. Go
11:09
back watch at litter dame game and
11:11
how flustered he.net gain i'm very rare
11:13
and up the very good defense the
11:15
space. And. That's going to be the
11:17
Nfl good. He's going to have to stay on script
11:19
more than he likes of. That makes sense because they're.
11:22
I. Don't like the patch for comparison.
11:25
Of me, there's only one patrimony. Bill
11:27
Benders with this year on He'll Varsity Radio and
11:29
Bill We just talked about the guy consensus: Number
11:32
One: Give me a guy that you think. Might.
11:34
Fall Down the Draft boards. A guy that
11:36
is a bit of a sleeper pick. who's
11:38
the guy that she liked that you think
11:41
has a long and fruitful Nfl career despite
11:43
not being a guy who's top sixteen Top
11:45
Twenty op board. While I was by flip,
11:47
one would take Brock Bowers. It's
11:49
like why Sally I go. Some.
11:51
Of the time when I do these things and as
11:53
them by the concentrates worn a college football game. I
11:56
just and like. a guy dominated college for
11:58
last two years is about player on the field
12:00
every time I watch Georgia play and
12:03
despite the injury he was awesome. So
12:05
he's a guy to watch. Jared Burst
12:07
is another guy that fits in that
12:09
discussion to me. You know Florida State,
12:11
every time I watch Florida State it
12:14
didn't take me long to find Jared Burst on
12:16
the tape and those are the
12:18
guys that I think do well at the next level. So
12:20
I'm interested to see, I got a sleeper for you, the
12:22
guy out of Toledo, I
12:24
don't even think he's a sleeper now. We all
12:26
know who Kenyon Mitchell is. Corner
12:29
from Toledo, last couple drafts have
12:31
produced all from corners, household names
12:33
at corner, he's probably not that
12:35
but he's got it all
12:38
and I think he'll do very well at the
12:40
next level. Guy I'm rooting for is
12:42
Michael Pennix Jr. I hope he lands
12:44
in a great spot. I loved what
12:46
he did in Indiana, loved him in
12:48
Washington. I know he's got the knee
12:50
in the medical history, the
12:53
guy's just a baller. Do you think he can
12:55
have a successful career? Yes,
12:57
I can and I think the Raiders
12:59
are such a make sense spot there
13:01
but I hope that happens. You
13:04
know one thing with him, his
13:06
draft stop really fluctuated in the
13:09
college football play out. He went
13:11
from obviously the monster
13:13
game at Texas where the ball
13:15
barely touched the turf
13:18
to the Michigan guys were in his face all
13:20
night and that was a long night for him.
13:22
So I think he'll have
13:25
to improve under pressure and with the
13:27
blitz coming which is something that
13:29
obviously all NFL quarterbacks have to learn but as
13:32
far as the guy that's definitely
13:34
got through injuries and we've
13:36
all seen the story he's had, yeah definitely happy for him.
13:39
I just wanted to touch on another Big Ten
13:41
guy from Michigan because we talked about J.J. McCarthy
13:43
but Blake Corum, I'm seeing that he's
13:45
kind of on that late first round, early
13:48
second round kind of fringe line. Where do
13:50
you see him ending up? What's a good
13:52
situation for Blake? Well, I
13:54
mean I think he looks to
13:56
me a little bit like Evan Singletary
13:59
did. We're Buffalo.
14:01
Not. Like it's undersized. Running back to
14:03
his. View. All right, but
14:05
I. I mean, there's a
14:08
little bit of an injury history. The sizes are
14:10
going to begin almost like warm. Was.
14:12
Certainly a guy is going to have specific.
14:14
The next level is one thing about blue
14:16
corn covered in last couple years. Above
14:20
water and I paul says guy possible
14:22
to have. Gotten. Caught a touchdown
14:24
while the vision and feet I do
14:26
think the Devon single perry comparison. It
14:29
out a star player at next level but he
14:31
will contribute and I think he'll have a nice
14:33
Nfl career. We. Were taught
14:35
to tell the truth though he'll
14:38
be a while. We got to
14:40
build into Sporting News Kids Sporting
14:42
News Not com with their draft
14:44
coverage. Senior writer with is your
14:46
ideal bender. Ninety Two on Twitter
14:48
is where you follow Bill. Spring
14:50
Game Saturday for Nebraska. Not a
14:53
good work in Word on the
14:55
quarterbacks just jump with Glenn Thomas
14:57
coaching them specifically. Spitzer interested? didn't
14:59
to get your thoughts here. Builders?
15:01
Yeah, you look at Nebraska. And
15:04
did the year to jump
15:07
you're anticipating for Nebraska with
15:09
to drool not coming back
15:11
on defense and a better
15:14
quarterback situation presumably without the
15:16
turn over bug spray. Nebraska
15:19
next season. I. Think you
15:21
know who were gonna be watch him in
15:23
the spring game as quarterback as a freshman
15:25
that I. Right? or
15:27
Dublin. Love eyes on him and.
15:30
In a way to just go with that
15:32
will obviously created some momentum but of the
15:34
minimum. Amount of Me. Really
15:36
real. Were. Recruiting. And.
15:39
I think that helpful so I'm excited
15:41
to watch. My God I'm gonna check
15:43
that game out this weekend. I know
15:45
the crowd will be there and now
15:47
we're wrapping up for a football. And.
15:50
With the portal com and. I'm. Wondering
15:52
how much we're we're going to treat Nebraska
15:54
and where their placement of gonna be. In.
15:56
as much larger big ten but they're gonna
15:59
be in that second third tier and at
16:01
team we're going to have a really close
16:03
watch on because of the quarterback situation and
16:05
premium with Riola especially. We'll
16:08
see if Nebraska takes that step forward. Bill
16:10
Bender with this sporting news at Bill Bender
16:12
92 on Twitter. Bill,
16:14
we'll check in again soon. Thanks for a few
16:16
minutes. Hey, no problem. You
16:18
guys enjoy the draft and thanks as always. Good
16:21
stuff from Bill Bender. We'll dive back
16:23
into the visitor weekend. Evan Bland joining
16:26
us from World Herald. That's
16:28
on the way.
Podchaser is the ultimate destination for podcast data, search, and discovery. Learn More