Jordan McCloud

RS Senior

Transfer from James Madison University

This will be more informational than an evaluation, as our need for a QB was huge, and signing the reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year is 5 Stars!!

Since Jordan is replacing TJ Finley, to better understand what Jordan brings to the Bobcats, I'm going to compare the two QBs. My comparison of the two is not meant to be critical of either one but simply a tool to help you better understand Jordan's game come fall, particularly since it will look much different than TJ's.

TJ has an NFL-caliber arm and size at 6'6" 250lbs. Jordan, on the other hand, is a 6'0" 200lbs QB with average arm strength. What makes Jordan successful is his ability to consistently make good pre-snap reads, look defenders off, go through his progressions, and throw an accurate deep ball.

Below is an example of Jordan using those QB skills to look off a defender and throw a deep ball strike across the field.

You can see Jordan's eye on the safety, freezing #20.

A half step later Jordan turns and throws deep.

Delivers a beautiful deep ball. Watch the full clip.

TJ made plays similar to this one as well, but not with the same consistency as Jordan in 2023.

When comparing how consistent they were, I utilized the Total Quarterback Rating, which operates on a scale of 0-100. I categorized their performances based on their scores, ranging from poor to elite. Below, you will see how many of their games fell into each category. Btw, it's worth noting that Jordan is a true dual-threat quarterback, and QBR takes that into account.

While TJ could play at an elite level more often than most quarterbacks, he also faced challenges at times. If Jordan can maintain the level of excellence he displayed in 2023, Texas State could attract national attention in the polls. Dare I say, they might even have a shot at the CFP playoffs.

There are some concerns about Jordan that we should keep an eye on. For instance, he did not begin 2023 as the starter. Additionally, his former coach questioned his work ethic and criticized his habits. Equally important, the coach, now the Head Coach at Indiana, did not offer Jordan at his new school, opting instead for a transfer from The University of Ohio. The bottom line is, Jordan won games and beat out his former head coach's handpicked starter. Habits reflect the mission, and our coaches will have the opportunity to observe Jordan's practice habits this spring. If the coaching staff and Jordan establish a strong connection, the sky's the limit. In fact, Lindsey Scott Jr. stats become a possibility, potentially resulting in Jordan receiving significant national attention.

Rating 5 Stars