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Blake Bortles will declare for the 2014 NFL draft, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The junior out of UCF has been receiving a lot of hype in the internet draftnik community, while ESPN's Todd McShay has also been praising him. Pro scouts may be less convinced, however, with conflicting reports on his draft status coming out at various points.
Bortles had a very good final season at UCF, completing 68% of his passes for 9.4 yards per attempt, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has the athleticism do some damage as a runner while also having the strong arm, accuracy and pocket presence to be a quality pocket passer. The most common comparison I've seen has been to Ben Roethlisberger.
Depending on Jeff Tedford's view of Mike Glennon and the way the draft shakes out, Bortles could be an option for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the top of the draft. Teddy Bridgewater is generally seen as the top quarterback, while Derek Carr and Johnny Manziel are also in the conversation as possible first-round picks. Redshirt sophomore Brett Hundley will return to school for his junior season at UCLA.
Video courtesy of Draft Breakdown
