After watching the 2006 Rose Bowl one thing was amazingly clear. Many of us had underestimated Vince Young. Sure we thought Vince would have a good game and represent his team well. Sure we saw Vince Young run for nearly 200 yards in the previous Rose Bowl. Now though Young was taking on USC. The Men of Troy although not considered a great defense were far less likely to let Young shine on the nation's biggest stage. Most of us didn't even believe to think that Young in a game of this magnitude would be able to rush for 100 yards let alone over 200 yards! I sat watching the game incredulous at Young's ability. The play-calling seemed so simple, so predictable yet it worked over and over again. First down a hand off or short pass. Second down Young would drop back as if he was going to throw and run the ball. Each second down Young would take our breath away with his moves. Young seemed to be gliding down the field and just when a USC defender would get a solid shot on him he would find a way to avoid the contact or run through a would be tackler. Young showed us what we have seen consistently going back to the 2005 Rose Bowl, quite simply Young has not yet been stopped.

    Before discussing Vince Young's place in college football we must examine the quarterbacks who came before him. For much of the 1980's in college football we have enjoyed drop back quarterbacks who were precision passers. Quarterbacks such as John Elway, Dan Marino and Jim Kelly who with strong accurate arms were able to stretch defenses and open up the running game. In the 1990's we started to see some more creativity in quarterbacks with players such as Kordell Stewart and Hines Ward. Quarterbacks began to run more and we began to recognize what has now come to be known as the dual threat quarterback, that being a quarterback who can run and pass effectively. We also learned that quarterbacks who are great athletes can have their talents translated to different positions in the NFL. This has been especially evident in recent transformations by Antwan Randle El and Matt Jones.

     In the last 5 years we saw more breakthrough in quarterbacks in Michael Vick. No one before had witnessed a quarterback with such alarming speed who could easily run past defenders. Vick became the most dangerous running threat in the history of the college game and soon became the most dangerous running threat at quarterback to play in the NFL. Or so we thought....... Until Vince Young. Between these two quarterbacks is a distinct difference. Young is 6-6 235 pounds! A man that big with such incredible running ability. Young who glides past defenders appears almost as if he is running effortlessly and then in the rare instances where a tackler does get a tackle on him it almost seems that defenders take more abuse from the contact. Young has also become a much more effective passer. He finished 3rd nationally in passing efficiency and proved much stronger in his pre-snap reads deciphering defenses. Some draft experts take issue with Young's throwing motion. His throwing motion may need some mechanical improvement but that seems to be the only weakness we really can find.  With the passing and running skills exhibited by Young its clear he is the latest line of quarterback. A combination of the classic drop back passer and dangerous running quarterback. A body that is able to withstand the hits and the punishment of the NFL.

    Many draft pundits will continue to underestimate Vince Young. We all have and some of us will continue to underestimate his abilities. The reality is Young thrives off being the underdog and performs consistently on the biggest national stage. The reality is that Young's ability and talent are already off the charts. Even more amazing is that he has not yet reached his full potential. If Vince Young decides to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft then the Houston Texans better take notice. For the whole year we all have consistently felt Reggie Bush was a clear first pick. The reality is we have underestimated Vince Young. The best player in college football is right in the Texan's back yard and his name is Vince Young. Don't underestimate Young like the rest of us Houston. Make the right move draft Vince Young, he will continue to exceed all of our expectations.