February 10, 2020
About a week has passed since the electrifying Super Bowl LIV between the Kansas City Chiefs
and San Francisco 49ers. While this was a fantastic game filled with spectacular coaching,
superb quarterback play, and great defense schemes, football fans are left with a feeling of emptiness considering the 2020 NFL season is now more than 200 days away. 200 is a daunting
number, but the NFL is able to keep their fans engaged by the multitude of deadlines and events
leading up to the beginning of the season, one of which being the NFL draft. The three day event
is set to begin on April 23rd in Paradise, NV featuring young talents such as Joe Burrows, Chase
Young, and Tua Tagovila. However, one player that no one seems to be discussing is Virginia
QB Bryce Perkins. Perkins played at UVA for two years, averaging a QBR of 140.85, a
completion percentage of 64.5, and throwing for a total of 47 TD’s. But what makes Perkins
such an outstanding QB is that he is a dual threat. Not only can he get an offense moving with
his arm, it’s actually his legs that make him dynamic. In his first season at Virgina, Perkins
rushed for nearly 1,000 yards, finishing the season with 923 rush yards and 9 rush TD’s. This
past season Perkins rushed for 769 yards and 11 TD’s. Perkins offers great size and athletic
ability, so why is no one talking about him? Probably because scouts only have a two year
sample size of Perkins at the FBS level, or because he threw 12 interceptions this past season...
whatever the reason, people are sleeping on Bryce Perkins. No matter where Perkins falls in the
draft I think it’s safe to say he’ll be extremely grateful for whatever opportunity he is given.
Perkins grew up surrounded by football. His grandfather, father, and brother all played in the
NFL so it was only natural that he would also play the sport that his family raised him to love.
Perkins was a running back until 8th grade when he was thrown into the QB position after his
team's QB broke his collarbone. Perkins was a natural, partially because of his athleticism, and
managed to lead his team to the championship game. From there Perkins stayed at the QB
position, eventually landing a spot on Arizona State’s roster. However, during his time at ASU
he suffered a frightening injury, fracturing two vertebra in his neck. He was forced to rehab for a
year, wanting nothing more than to get back on a football field. He then found an opportunity
Arizona Western, a junior college. This was a challenging decision for him to make, simply
because he was already at the D1 level previously. He had no idea what the transition was going
to be like, but states that this experience was the best thing to ever happen to him. While it was
tough, he became a better football player, and an even better man. His time at Arizona Western
taught him that everything wasn’t going to come easily to him so he was forced to work hard, be
patient, and trust the process. Trusting the process is exactly what he did, and that led him to
being the starting QB at Virginia. Perkins helped create a football culture at Virginia that his
teammates bought into, growing the program at a rapid rate. During an interview with USA
Today in October of 2019, head coach Bronco Mendenhall had only positive things to say about
his starting QB, stating “I’m so lucky he’s here. We’re so lucky he’s here.” While some wish that
Perkins was a little more accurate, I would say his dual-threat ability, athleticism, and leadership
will make him a great addition to any NFL locker room.
Perkins is still working hard to raise his draft stock, but ultimately all he cares about is getting
drafted by the right team into the right situation. He recognizes that there are still a lot of things
he can learn about the QB position, and he hopes to be drafted by a team that will help develop
his talent and eventually offer him an opportunity to imprint his name on the league. He ended
his career at Virginia on a high note leading his team in rush yards, and completing 70% of his
passes for 323 yards in the school's first ever appearance in the Orange Bowl. While our last
impression of Perkins was a great one, he must still work hard to raise his draft stock prior to
April 23rd. So far he has planned two pro days, one at ASU and one at UVA, and is working
with people who have connections with various NFL scouts. As of now Perkins will not be
attending the combine, making these pro days especially important. Whether or not they raise his
draft stock, it’s safe to safe that in a league with QB’s such as Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson,
and Deshaun Watson, there is a place for Bryce Perkins in the league. No matter what happens
during the NFL draft, Perkins is reminding himself that he can be successful even if he’s picked
on the last day of the draft. Maybe he can find hope in the fact that Brady was the 199th pick of
the draft in 2000 and is a five time champion. All Perkins needs is to once again trust the
process, and fall to a team that is willing to give him a shot to one day make noise in the NFL.