Christian Ponder, QB

• Height: 6-foot-3
• Weight: 227 pounds
• School: Florida State

Scouting Report

As poorly as his Florida State career ended, Ponder has since performed well enough to be considered a possible first-round pick. Maybe the only reason he won't go that high is a question of durability. After his junior season was cut short by a separated shoulder, Ponder went through 2010 battling an elbow problem which caused him to miss the ACC title game, and he returned for the Chick-fil-A Bowl only to get knocked out by a concussion. However, Ponder was back four weeks later and won Senior Bowl MVP honors, throwing for a game-high 132 yards and the only two TD passes in a game which included top prospects Jake Locker, Andy Dalton and Ricky Stanzi. The NFL combine saw Ponder again outperform many of them as well as Cam Newton, throwing immediately after the Heisman Trophy winner and appearing to be the more adept passer. The combine also showed further proof of his good footwork, tying for first among QBs in the 20-yard shuttle. His mobility is a major strength, whether scrambling for first downs or buying extra time to throw. That factor, along with his accuracy in the short passing game, makes Ponder an ideal fit in the West Coast offense. He does lack zip on longer throws and takes too many chances when firing downfield. Still, he is a leader whose intelligence among this QB crop is unmatched - he got his master's degree in business before his senior season and was the ACC football's top student-athlete. The three-year starter finished among the Seminoles' all-time top five in passing yards and completions.