Byron Leftwich Scouting Report

College: Marshall

Height: 6-5

Weight: 231

40-yard dash: 5.10

Bench Press: 300 pounds

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

A fierce competitor with the size of a linebacker, Leftwich spent his first two years in Huntington as an understudy to current New York Jets starter Chad Pennington before establishing himself as a three-season fixture in the Thundering Herd starting lineup.

After earning clean-up time in seven games and redshirting the 1999 campaign with a high ankle sprain, he emerged with the polish of a veteran as a third-year sophomore in 2000, leading the Mid-American Conference with 3,358 passing yards and 21 touchdown throws, including a MAC Championship-record 358 yards in MU's 19-14 win over Western Michigan.

The following season, he set conference marks with 4,224 yards of total offense, 41 touchdowns and 315 completions, and compiled a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 5.4 to 1, second nationally to last year's number-one NFL draft pick David Carr. In '02, he managed to supplement his proficiency with a memorable moment of fortitude. In a November matchup against Akron, he left the game in the first quarter with an injury to his left shin, but returned after halftime to post 208 second-half passing yards, despite requiring assistance from his offensive linemen to move downfield.

A two-time Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Leftwich has been favorably compared to current Minnesota Vikings starter Daunte Culpepper, and could develop more quickly in a relatively stable franchise situation.