Stephens: Garrett Grayson sees NFL draft stock rising

ENGLEWOOD – Garrett Grayson knows he's a better quarterback than Brett Hundley and Bryce Petty.

He didn't mind that he wasn't one of 16 quarterbacks named Davey O'Brien Award semifinalists last fall, or that he played football at CSU instead of at a Power 5 conference. Grayson feels confident that, behind Heisman Trophy winners Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, he's the best option under center in this month's NFL draft.

Grayson is confident enough, but there were still doubts about how his game would translate to the next level. Scouts, for instance, have commented on his passing delivery — more of a long, fluid motion than a quick snap. But those doubts vanished after spending only four hours with Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden.

Grayson was one of five players invited to ESPN's "Jon Gruden's QB Camp" on March 30, joining Mariota (Oregon), Winston (Florida State), Hundley (UCLA) and Petty (Baylor) for a chance to showcase their football IQ on national television.

Breaking down film with a Super Bowl-winning coach was surreal, Grayson said, but the pleasure was all Gruden's.

"(Gruden) was really looking forward to talking and working with me because he said he's not a fan of the spread offense at all. He was excited to turn on my film and see pro-style concepts and protections and watch me make checks," Grayson said Sunday, while watching Colorado State University's spring practice at the Denver Broncos' practice facility. "He said he had all the faith in the world that I could play at the next level."

When NFL coaches and executives have questions about drafting a quarterback, Gruden is the man they call. And of the five quarterbacks invited to his camp, Grayson's experience in Jim McElwain's pro-style offense set him apart.

Petty might have played in the Big 12, but Baylor used one-word plays, Grayson said, and didn't give its quarterback the liberty of changing protection calls at the line of scrimmage. Baylor suffered when opponents blitzed because Petty wasn't sure how to handle it — his job duties didn't involve determining a corrective course of action.

That was never a problem for Grayson at CSU, who was allowed to take his time between plays and read a defense, frequently calling audibles without the help of his coaches. NFL defenses will be smarter, sure, but Grayson has already proven he can successfully navigate a learning curve.

Grayson has worked out for the San Diego Chargers and Miami Dolphins with impressive results. He's keen on NFL terminology, protections and reads; the only attribute he needs to tune up is his delivery, which is keeping professional teams optimistically cautious.

They shouldn't be so hesitant.

Grayson didn't become the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, throwing for 4,006 yards, 32 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a senior, by luck. Unlike Hundley and Petty, he wasn't protected by four- and five-star linemen and didn't have the luxury of throwing to blue-chip wide receivers — though Rashard Higgins blossoming as a Biletnikoff Award finalist certainly helped. He played at CSU, a program that, until he took over as the starting quarterback, was looked at as a joke.

Not anymore. Grayson led the rally to change that perception, overcoming injuries, recent tradition and a fan base that wanted him benched, to make the Rams respectable. He's exactly the quarterback — from skills to charisma — NFL franchises are looking for.

If they don't realize it yet, they will when they see him impress Gruden on April 18.

For insight and analysis on athletics around Northern Colorado and the Mountain West, follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.

When to watch

The first episode of "Jon Gruden's QB Camp" featuring Grayson will air at 10 a.m. April 18 on ESPN2.

Additional broadcasts

•3 p.m. April 20 on ESPNU

•1 a.m. and 7 a.m. April 21 on ESPNU

•7 a.m. April 25 on ESPNU

•9 a.m. April 29 on ESPNU

•12:30 p.m. April 29 on ESPN Classic