Collin Schlee, QB UCLA: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Schlee was a three-star recruit from Oakdale High School in Ijamsville, Md. in the class of 2019

Learn the name Collin Schlee. The Kent State quarterback transferred to UCLA this spring and could be one of the biggest surprises in the Pac-12. Schlee currently projects as an early Day 3 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft but could rapidly rise up boards if he starts over freshman Dante Moore.

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Collin Schlee, QB UCLA: 2024 NFL Draft Profile

Classification: Redshirt senior quarterback from Ijamsville, Md.

Background: Schlee was a three-star recruit from Oakdale High School in Ijamsville, Md. in the class of 2019. He was the No. 2,084 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,952 for On3.com. Schlee was an unranked two-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 70 grade out of 100. He transferred from Kent State to UCLA for the 2023 season. Schlee led Oakdale to a 13-0 record and the 2018 Maryland 2A State Championship as a high school senior. He was the championship game’s MVP. In 2018, he passed for 2,000 yards, rushed for 750 more, and scored 40 total touchdowns. As a junior, Schlee threw for 1,483 yards and 18 touchdowns while completing 60% of his pass attempts. His high school accolades included 2018 News-Post's All-Area Player of the Year, USA Today All-USA Maryland Football First Team, and 2017 First Team All-State honors. Schlee received DI offers as a basketball player from Mount St. Mary's and Bucknell.

Injuries & Off-Field: Missed Akron game (2022), partial participant against Eastern Michigan and Buffalo in 2022

Awards: 2022 Third Team All-MAC

Pros: Makes it look easy with his arm talent, arm strength to reach all levels, connected on a 50-yard throw against Long Island (2022), can bomb the ball 60+ yards downfield, velocity pops constantly, drives the ball on a rope through small windows, maintains velocity when throwing off platform, creates off platform and out of structure, varies release angles on throws, speeds up throwing motion and release to match windows, manipulates defenses with his eyes, doesn’t try to do too much when pressured, knows when to throw the ball away and live another down, generally makes good reads on whether to keep or hand off on RPOs, quick to set his feet and fire after pulling the ball out of the running back’s gut on RPOs or play action, defense can’t leave him alone in space because of his speed and mobility, mobility to roll out and move the pocket, buys time and keeps his eyes downfield, takes advantage of open grass with his legs, threat to keep the ball on RPOs, generated more than 30 missed tackles in 2022

Cons: Six fumbles in 2022, holds the ball for too long which invites pressure, must speed up reads and processing, footwork must be more consistent, throws fading away or off platform when it isn’t necessary, fades away from pressure, adds unnecessary steps in his dropback, a little toesy and eager to leave the pocket, tries to get too cute with sidearm throws, needs to apply touch on short and intermediate throws, guilty of putting a little too much faith in his arm talent to fire through small windows, accuracy and ball placement need to improve, downfield accuracy doesn’t maximize his arm talent, ball placement is erratic and doesn’t lead pass catchers consistently, a few mishandled snaps, too quick to tuck and run at times

Overview: Schlee’s arm talent immediately pops on film. He can reach all levels of the field, including areas 60+ yards downfield. Schlee’s whip-like throwing motion drives the ball with excellent velocity. He fits passes into tight windows along the sideline and throws lasers between defenders to his receivers over the middle of the field. Schlee maintains his velocity when creating off platform and outside of structure. He varies his release angles and speed to match the play’s timing. The Maryland native manipulates defenses with his eyes. He doesn’t try to do too much when pressured and knows when to accept a sack or throw the ball away. Schlee’s mobility makes him a threat on RPOs, which he usually reads and executes well. He quickly sets his feet and fires when he pulls the ball out of the running back’s gut on play action or RPOs. The speed with which he flips his hips to get right into his throwing motion stands out on these plays. Defenses can’t leave Schlee alone in space because of his speed and mobility. He is mobile enough to move the pocket, extend plays, or carry the ball on designed runs for chunks of yardage. Defensive linemen struggle to corral the redshirt senior. However, that mobility comes with some risks. Schlee fumbled six times in 2022. His ability to scramble sometimes encourages him to hold the ball for too long and invites pressure into his lap. He must speed up his reads and processing at UCLA. Schlee’s footwork is inconsistent as he willingly throws fading away or off platform when he has a clean pocket. There are also some slight unnecessary steps in his dropback. Schlee is a little toesy and eager to leave the pocket. He occasionally gets too cute with sidearm throws and fancy deliveries. The transfer needs to apply touch on short and intermediate throws instead of whipping the ball at nearby pass catchers. Schlee is guilty of putting a little too much faith in his arm talent, which sometimes leads to interceptions. His accuracy and ball placement need to improve. Schlee doesn’t consistently lead pass catchers with his ball placement. His downfield accuracy doesn’t maximize his arm talent.

Overall, Schlee suffers from inconsistencies in his ball placement and touch, but his arm talent pops in a way that NFL teams can’t ignore. Winning the UCLA job in a crowded quarterback room and correcting some of the minor inconsistencies in his game will go a long way to establishing Schlee as at least a mid-day three pick.

Role & Scheme Fit: Mobile passer in an RPO and play action-heavy scheme

Round Projection: Early Fifth Round

Size: 6'3", 213 lbs. (Unofficial)

Submitted: 06-13-23