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Future NFL Draft prospect Devante Kincade will carry FCS torch

By Collin Wieder

Dec 17, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Grambling State Tigers quarterback Devante Kincade (1) scrambles against the North Carolina Central Eagles in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Grambling State Tigers quarterback Devante Kincade (1) scrambles against the North Carolina Central Eagles in the first quarter at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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2018 NFL Draft prospect Devante Kincade will try to emulate his 2016 success. If he continues his play, he’ll likely get a decent selection in the draft.

When players transfers from FBS to FCS competition, they typically become a lower priority to the NFL. However, many recent drafts have proven FCS quarterbacks can be drafted early. Obviously, Carson Wentz just went second overall in last year’s draft.

Joe Flacco, Steve McNair, Doug Williams and Phil Simms are a few of the other notable selections. The next quarterback in that prestigious line could be Grambling State’s Devante Kincade. The Dallas Skyline product still has his senior season to prove he’s worth such an investment, but his efforts in 2016 were admirable.

Kincade transferred from Ole Miss after the 2015 season. He saw snaps in each of his first two seasons, but he would’ve sat behind Chad Kelly in 2016. And he would have to battle five-star quarterback Shea Patterson in his final season just to start one year. He made the right decision to leave and it paid off well.

I doubt Kincade is worth a first-round selection, but a third round or later pick isn’t out of the question. He’s certainly got loads of production throwing for 3,206 yards, 32 touchdowns against just four interceptions. He also added more than 350 rushing yards and six touchdowns. He showed accuracy all season completing 63 percent of 372 pass attempts.

He didn’t just dink and dunk the ball down the field either. He showed nice touch on deep balls (Courtesy of Ben Brave Productions) and zip on intermediate throws. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, he’s got decent size. He isn’t a quarterback that tends to take off too often and doesn’t need his legs to have success.

This is key when it comes to smaller scrambling quarterbacks. We’ve seen the results of starters who relied heavily on their legs and college. The only true quarterback who can take that punishment is Cam Newton, so this is key that he’s more scrambler than runner. The NFL ate Robert Griffin III and Colin Kaepernick alive when defenses took away the run threat.

Most importantly, he’s a winner. He led the Tigers to a 12-1 season and a SWAC-MEAC national championship. The Tigers’ lone loss came to DIv. I Arizona in week two. Kincade certainly lived up to the stage completing 15-of-19 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns before leaving the game due to injury. Despite missing the rest of the game, he played the rest of the Tigers’ 13 games.

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Heading into the 2017 season, he can only raise his stock. As long as he can bulk up a bit and show his ability to sit and throw from the pocket more.

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