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Looking for a breakout candidate for 2013? Look no further than the Louisville Cardinals‘ starting quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Okay, so he’s not exactly a breakout candidate since he already broke out in a big way in 2012, but the junior quarterback could make a strong case for the Heisman Trophy.
Standing a solid 6-foot-3 and weighing in at a healthy 196 pounds, the reigning Big East Offensive Player of the Year has a lot of pressure on his shoulders leading the ninth ranked Cardinals into the 2013 campaign.
Related: NCAA Football: Breaking Down the Louisville Cardinals 2013 Schedule
Could this be his best year yet? It’s hard to say, but the amount he has progressed from his freshman year to his sophomore campaign has been astronomical. In his freshman year in 2011, he passed for an impressive 2,129 yards, 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a completion percentage of 64.
Last season, the talented gunslinger passed for 3,718 yards, 27 touchdowns, eight interceptions and completion percentage of over 68.
One of the biggest knocks on the young QB is that he isn’t much of a dual-threat — something that is highly coveted in today’s game. The inability to scramble could be a make-or-break trait, but Bridgewater makes due with the attributes that he does possess.
Bridgewater is one of the top college prospects for the 2014 NFL Draft and could be on top of the long list of juniors leaving college a year early for the professional ranks.
This is a guy that could get you 4,000 yards, 30 touchdowns and a completion percentage of close to 70 if he remains healthy and continues his exceptional progress. Imagine if he could run; he’d be a top-five draft pick next year. Watch out for a serious Heisman push.
Connor Muldowney is a columnist for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
