The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Browns in no hurry to rush Kizer into starting role before he’s ready
By Jeff Schudel jschudel@news-herald.com @jsproinsider on Twitter DeShone Kizer POSITION » Quarterback HEIGHT, WEIGHT » 6-foot-4, 233 BIRTHDATE » Jan. 3, 1996 YEARS PRO » Rookie COLLEGE » Notre Dame RANKING » 24th of 25 KIZER’S BACKGROUND » Kizer was Mr. Jock at Toledo Central Catholic High School – a star quarterback, a point guard on the basketball team and a pitcher on the baseball team. In the end, he chose to pursue football.
Kizer was recruited by Alabama, LSU and Notre Dame. He was the thirdstring quarterback for the Fighting Irish in 2014, sitting behind Everett Golson and Malik Zaire, so he ended up redshirting that season.
Fortune smiled on Kizer in 2015. Golson transferred to Florida State and Zaire suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of the season. Kizer took over, finished the 2015 season and started again in 2016.
Kizer could have played two more seasons at Notre Dame, but instead chose to cash in and enter the draft in 2017. The decision might have cost him because he didn’t get drafted until the Browns chose him in the second round with the 52nd overall pick. Four days before the draft, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly speaking on SiriusXM Radio said Kizer should have returned to college in 2017. “He’s got to have traits of excellence,” Kelly said. “He’s got to be able to have attention to detail and that focus. He’s got to be smart and he’s got to have the ability to grind and a great attitude. He’s got those traits but they’ve got to be continuously worked on. Whoever takes DeShone, he’s not a finished product in those areas.” WHY KIZER IS RANKED 24TH » Kizer is not ranked higher simply because he isn’t a finished product. Coach Hue Jackson hasn’t announced his depth chart for training camp yet. Presumably Kizer will be third at quarterback, but not for long.
COLLEGE RECAP » Kizer started 23 of 25 games at Notre Dame in 2015 and 2016. He completed 211 of 235 passes for 2,884 yards with 21 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions his first year starting. He lost four of his top five receivers and left tackle Ronnie Stanley in the 2015 draft. His completion percentage in 2016 dropped from 63 percent to 58.7. He threw 26 touchdown passes and nine interceptions. WHY KIZER IS IMPORTANT IN 2017 » Kizer is important in 2017 because the Browns are in a rebuild and the plan is for him to be a major part of it.
“He has one of the most beautiful releases and whip in his arm,” quarterback coach David Lee said at the end of minicamp in June. “He has to learn the offense. He has a lot in front of him. It is different. He isn’t playing (in college) anymore. It is a different schedule. He’s going through a lot right now and his head is swimming, but boy when he gets it and he gets the lower body, he has a chance to be special.”
PREDICTION FOR 2017 » Kizer will begin the season as the third quarterback. Look for him to be a starter by Nov. 12 when the Browns return from their bye.