The Miami Hurricanes are pumped up for the 2016 college football season and a big reason for that excitement is the presence of star quarterback Brad Kaaya. Many believe that he could end up competing for the Heisman Trophy as well as for the top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Kaaya could see a major improvement in his numbers as well with new head coach Mark Richt on board. He has not had the level of coaching that Richt and his staff will bring to the table.
Looking ahead to next years NFL Draft, Kaaya has been receiving a lot of comparisons and glowing comments from scouts. One unnamed ex-NFL exec talked about how Kaaya reminds him of recently retired and future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.
“He has some Peyton Manning-like qualities as far as intelligence and leadership.”
That line is something that Kaaya should be honored to see said about himself. Manning is known as one of the smartest quarterbacks to ever play the game. He is also one of the best leaders that the NFL has seen at the quarterback position.
Last season with the Hurricanes, Kaaya ended up completing 61.2 percent of his pass attempts for 3,238 yards, 16 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. Those numbers may not look amazing, but they are solid. He will take his game to a completely new level this season and will prove why top draft pick hype is surrounding him.
Miami will go as far as Kaaya is capable of taking them next season. He may not end up being the top pick in the NFL Draft, but he has the potential to work his way into that selection.
It will be interesting to see what kind of impact Richt can make on Kaaya this coming season. Having a head coach like him as a mentor is exactly what a young star needs to take the next step.
Expect to see him put together a big season in 2016 and lead the Hurricanes farther than they have been in years. They aren’t serious College Football Playoff contenders, but they could compete in the ACC.
