2007 NFL Draft:
Jared Zabransky Makes a Run for the Big Time

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

Jared Zabransky knows a thing or two about winning. Twice during his stint as the starting quarterback at Boise State, he led the Broncos to undefeated regular seasons.

The first ended with a heartbreaking bowl loss to Louisville. In 2006, however, the Broncos finished a perfect 13-0 after sliding past Oklahoma, 43-42 in overtime, in the Fiesta Bowl. Zabransky, who helped set up the overtime when he completed a last-second hook-and-lateral play, was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

"The Cinderella effect, the Little Engine That Could type of thing was really nice about that game," he recalls. "It was very special."

Zabransky completed 610 of 980 passes for 8,256 yards and 58 touchdowns during his career as a Bronco. In 2006, he connected on 191 of 288 passes for 23 scores and eight interceptions. His passer rating was 162.57.

That said, he isn't as much known for his arm, perhaps, as for his legs. A dangerous scrambler, Zabransky holds the record for the longest rushing play in Boise State history at 85 yards.

Zabransky drops back to pass in the first quarter of the Tostito's Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2007.

"I've been compared to Jeff Garcia," Zabransky says of the NFL quarterback with solid throwing and running skills. "I like his game and the way he plays."

Most coaches like the way Zabransky plays as well. He's a prolific athlete - he played football, basketball and baseball in high school - and was named Eastern Oregon's Athlete of the Year in 2002. That season, as a prep junior, Zabransky threw for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Later, when he led Boise State to an 11-1 record in 2004, he was named All-American honorable mention by Sports Illustrated. At 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, some say he is undersized for the NFL. Zabransky brushes off such criticism.

"If you can play football, you can play football," he says. "Size helps, but it isn't everything."

Zabransky advises high school quarterbacks to take off-field preparations as seriously as they take off-season weight training and throwing drills.

"I think film comes first if you have to choose between the two," he says. "A lot of your success comes through the weight room and being a diligent and hard worker there, but as a quarterback it's about preparation and you need to do that in the film room."

His final advice for young QBs?

"You can improve everywhere," he says. "Be a student of the game. It's something that's very important at the quarterback position. Work on your arm strength, your foot work, your poise in the pocket, your drop. Work on holding onto the ball when you're under center and get the snap."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.