Prep work for draft pays for Vols’ Dobbs

KNOXVILLE, TENN. — Tennessee’s Joshua Dobbs, who has earned nearly as much attention for his academic achievements as his football exploits, is approaching the NFL draft process like he is prepping for an exam.

And the results are familiar: Dobbs is acing his football tests as well.

Regarded as a potential late-round selection or even an undrafted free agent prior to his senior season, the aerospace engineering major from Alpharetta now could hear his name called by the second night of the NFL draft.

“I’ve done exactly what I set out to do, just put together great workouts in each of my opportunities to work out for various teams,” Dobbs said. “It’s all I can do. You just have to wait until the draft comes because that’s when everything’s set in stone.”

ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay believes Dobbs will be a second-round pick. McShay has Dobbs as his fifth-ranked quarterback, behind North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky, Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes and Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer.

Dobbs started 37 games at Tennessee and joined Tim Tebow, Dak Prescott and Johnny Manziel as the only SEC players ever to combine at least 50 career touchdown passes with 25 touchdown runs. His 3,781 yards of total offense last year were eight shy of Peyton Manning’s single-season school record.

He gained more buzz by shining at Senior Bowl workouts. McShay said that prompted him to review Tennessee game tapes and notice dropped passes or incorrect routes contributed to Dobbs’ perceived accuracy issues.

“I don’t think that any quarterback in this draft has improved his stock as much as Josh has in the offseason,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said.

Dobbs could become the first Tennessee quarterback to get taken in the first four rounds since Indianapolis made Manning the No. 1 overall pick in 1998. The only Tennessee quarterbacks drafted since were fifth-round selections Tee Martin (2000), Erik Ainge (2008) and Jonathan Crompton (2010).

Dobbs has exchanged texts with Manning and has received advice from the fivetime MVP. “He talks about pride and preparation and just taking advantage of each opportunity,” Dobbs said.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Prescott in the fourth round last year. The former Mississippi State star’s success has played a role in Dobbs’ recent surge. “He will benefit from the Dak Prescott effect,” said Bucky Brooks, a former NFL scout now working as an NFL Network draft analyst.