Preston Stone QB SMU | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Preston Stone QB SMU
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 12/13/2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.90 seconds (34%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.2 DOB: 10/16/2001 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: Mobile Pocket Passer | |
| Last Updated: 12/13/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.90 seconds (34%*) | |
| Age: 23.2 DOB: 10/16/2001 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 74.4 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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72% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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69% |
| Short Passing: |
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74% |
| Medium Passing: |
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80% |
| Long Passing: |
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85% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
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60% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
7th
Overall Rank:
#231
Position rank:
#23
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| College Games: 26 College Snaps: 996 | ||
ESPN RATING: 84/100
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247 RATING: 94/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.9 (97%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Todd Centeio - James Madison |
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89% |
| Jack Coan - Notre Dame |
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81% |
| Skylar Thompson - Kansas State |
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81% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Preston Stone, SMU's redshirt sophomore signal-caller, emerged as a dual-threat playmaker in 2023. The Dallas native was a blue-chip recruit out of Parish Episcopal, where he amassed over 13,100 passing yards and 145 touchdowns. Stone's high school pedigree attracted offers from several Power Five programs.At SMU, Stone climbed the depth chart methodically. After redshirting in 2021 and limited snaps in 2022, he seized the starting role in 2023. Stone lit up the stat sheet, throwing for 3,197 yards and 28 touchdowns in 12 starts. He topped the AAC with a 161.3 passer rating and ranked fourth in passing yards.
Stone's breakout campaign earned him three AAC Offensive Player of the Week nods and a spot on the Davey O'Brien Midseason Watch List. His performance was instrumental in SMU's 10-2 regular season record, showcasing his ability to elevate in crucial situations.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Plus arm talent with the ability to drive the ball vertically and fit throws into tight windows
- Exhibits a quick trigger and compact release, allowing for rapid progression through reads
- Displays functional mobility to extend plays and pick up chunk yardage on designed runs
- Demonstrates advanced football IQ, adept at diagnosing coverages and making pre-snap adjustments
- Natural leader who commands the huddle and elevates teammates' performance in critical moments
- Shows touch and anticipation on intermediate routes, particularly on seam throws and crossing patterns
- Executes play-action with conviction, creating separation for receivers downfield
- Proven performer in pressure situations
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks prototypical NFL quarterback height, potentially leading to obstructed throwing lanes
- Mechanics break down under duress, resulting in erratic ball placement and reduced velocity
- Tendency to lock onto primary targets, telegraphing intentions to defensive backs
- Overcompensates on deep balls, creating too much arc and allowing defenders to recover
- Displays gunslinger mentality at times, forcing throws into coverage and risking turnovers
- Lost his starting job to Kevin Jennings early in 2024
Scouting Report: Summary
Stone's trajectory has shifted significantly following his replacement by Kevin Jennings as SMU's starter. While his earlier flashes showed potential, particularly in vertical passing and mobility, his struggles to maintain consistency have raised concerns about his developmental ceiling.His previous success in SMU's up-tempo system demonstrated ability to process quickly, but inconsistent performance led to the quarterback change. Stone's mechanics and decision-making under pressure have proven to be more significant hurdles than initially projected, leading to questions about his ability to handle complex defensive looks.
While Stone still possesses appealing physical tools with his quick release and mobility, the loss of his starting role makes his path to NFL consideration more uncertain. His struggles to maintain efficiency at the Group of 5 level suggest he would need significant development time and mechanical refinement before being considered for even a backup role at the professional level. Teams interested in Stone would need to view him as a long-term developmental project rather than an immediate contributor.
The emergence of Jennings as SMU's starter indicates that Stone's processing speed and execution in game situations have not progressed as hoped, despite his apparent tools. His future prospects will largely depend on whether he can secure another starting opportunity, potentially through the transfer portal, and demonstrate more consistent performance against quality competition.
Written By:
Andrew Moore (The American)
How other scouting services rate Preston Stone (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
234.0
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
27.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.