No player in college football has transformed their draft stock more in 2025 than SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings. What began as a strong senior campaign has evolved into a full-blown meteoric rise, vaulting Jennings from a mid-round sleeper to a legitimate first-round QB prospect—and possibly the first quarterback selected in the upcoming draft.
With SMU sitting No. 3 in the nation, in the thick of the playoff hunt, and Jennings now a leading candidate for the Heisman Trophy, his ascent has become one of the defining storylines of the PCFB season.
A Season for the Ages
Jennings’ production is nothing short of legendary:
- 3,811 passing yards
- 43 passing touchdowns
- 2 interceptions
- 68% completion rate
- 418 rushing yards
- 5 rushing touchdowns
These numbers place him among the most efficient dual-threat quarterbacks in modern college football. He’s been both explosive and error-free, a rare combination that NFL evaluators covet.
And while the stats are jaw-dropping, the tape is even better. Jennings’ blend of off-platform creativity, velocity, and decision-making has made him virtually impossible to game-plan for.
The Athletic Profile That Has Scouts Buzzing
At 6’0, 186 lbs, Jennings is unquestionably on the smaller side for an NFL quarterback—but in today’s league, size is no longer the hard barrier it once was. What he lacks in mass, he makes up for with elite movement skills and sharp processing speed.
His athletic ratings speak for themselves:
- 90 Speed
- 94 Acceleration
- 93 Agility
- 93 Change of Direction
- 83 Break Tackle
- 86 Spin Move
- 89 Juke Move
Jennings moves like a slot receiver with the football in his hands. His ability to turn improvisational chaos into 20-yard gains mirrors some of the NFL’s most exciting playmakers.
But where he really separates from the pack is his passing arsenal:
- 92 Throw Power
- 88 Deep Accuracy
- 96 Throw on the Run
- 96 Short Accuracy
- 93 Medium Accuracy
- 79 Under Pressure
He can throw lasers across the field, layer touch passes between defenders, and deliver strikes sprinting flat-out. His ability to throw accurately on the move is arguably the best in college football.
NFL Comparisons 🔍
Scouts have struggled to find the perfect comparison for Jennings because of his rare skill blend, but the most common comps include:
📌 Russell Wilson (Prime Seahawks Version)
Like Wilson at NC State and Wisconsin, Jennings is a shorter passer with excellent deep accuracy, off-script ability, and leadership presence. Both quarterbacks excel at extending plays while protecting the football.
📌 Kyler Murray
Jennings shares Murray’s acceleration, agility, and rapid release. While not as compactly built or quite as fast, his lateral quickness and open-field elusiveness are strikingly similar.
📌 Bryce Young (but faster)
Bryce Young’s poise, controlled movement, and accuracy—especially in the short and intermediate range—are often used as touchpoints for Jennings’ play style.
He isn’t a carbon copy of any of them, but he fits firmly into the mold of the new-age NFL QB: fast, instinctual, creative, and precise.
247-Style Draft Breakdown: Strengths and Weaknesses 📊
Strengths
🏈 Elite Accuracy at All Levels
Jennings can throw darts into tight windows and routinely hits receivers in stride. His short and intermediate accuracy are among the best in the country.
🏃♂️ Dynamic Dual-Threat Ability
He’s a nightmare to defend on designed QB runs and scrambles. His agility and COD allow him to turn broken plays into explosives.
🧠 High Football IQ & Poise
Jennings rarely forces throws, rarely panics under pressure, and always seems aware of down-and-distance situations.
🎯 Deadly on the Move
Very few college QBs can throw with more accuracy while rolling left or right. His off-platform mechanics are clean and natural.
🚀 Deep Ball Touch
His ability to drop vertical passes in over a defender’s shoulder is a major reason SMU’s offense is explosive.
🏆 Leadership & Intangibles
Jennings is universally described as competitive, composed, and respected by teammates. He’s the type of quarterback a locker room rallies behind.
Weaknesses
📉 Size & Durability Concerns
At only 186 lbs, durability at the next level is a legitimate question. His frame is maxed out, and NFL front offices will want to know how he plans to withstand pro hits.
⏱️ Can Hold the Ball Too Long
His creativity is both a blessing and a curse. Jennings occasionally extends plays unnecessarily instead of taking the easy throw.
🔧 Under Pressure Consistency
While improving, he still has stretches where pressure affects his lower-body mechanics, leading to inaccurate throws when his platform collapses.
🗂️ Offense Translation
SMU’s system gives him defined reads and spacing advantages. Teams will want to see how he handles more complex full-field progressions.
Is Jennings a First-Round Lock? 🏆
He’s forcing the conversation.
No quarterback in college football is playing at a higher level right now. If he caps his year with a Heisman Trophy and a postseason surge, Jennings could vault into the top 10—especially with QB-needy teams eyeing his upside.
Right now, scouts love the combination of:
- elite accuracy
- rare athleticism
- leadership
- character
- production
- modern skillset
He may be small, but in today’s NFL, playmakers like Jennings are the future—not the exception.
SMU’s run isn’t just one of the best stories in PCFB this year…
It might be the launchpad for the next great dual-threat star at the professional level.
