T.J. Yates Scouting Report

T.J. Yates has quietly been the steadying hand behind the North Carolina offense. The 6-4, 220 pound quarterback has not put up great numbers throughout his collegiate career, but he is a steady and smart passer who can run an offense at the next level. Even as a freshman, when Yates was thrown into a starting role, he performed quite well. Despite an offensive line that rarely gave him time to operate, Yates passed for 2,655 yards and completed nearly 60 percent of his passes. Yates was limited as a sophomore due to an injury, but in the seven games he played, Yates threw for 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Yates was back and fully healthy in 2009, but again he felt a lot of pressure and was consistently forced to throw the ball earlier than he wanted. The result was 15 interceptions and 24 sacks. While Yates' completion percentage continued to climb, the interceptions were a big problem. In 2010 Yates was again spending a lot of time picking himself up from the turf. However, he had grown a lot and emerged as a leader. Despite being sacked 34 times, Yates made smart passes and only threw eight interceptions. His 18 touchdowns and 3,184 yards through the regular season were among the best in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Perhaps the most impressive number from the 2010 season was Yates' 67.6 completion percentage. Even with all the pressure, Yates did a great job of making the smart pass and not forcing anything. His size, albeit slightly exaggerated, is a big plus. Listed at 6-4 and a product of a coaching staff with NFL experience, Yates can step into a backup role right away and that is not a bad deal for a team who can use a fifth or sixth round selection on a quarterback who can be a solid backup for many years.