This is why USA fans are excited about Brandon Bridge. He needed time to refine his mechanics/touch, but it looks like he has made improvements. He is no doubt a baller though. This article also mentions Utah State for ASU fans who might want to read it.
http://www.si.com/college-football/2014/...nside-read
3. South Alabama’s Brandon Bridge turning heads
The Manning Passing Academy has evolved into a must-stop event for elite college quarterbacks. It has also turned into a venue where small-school quarterbacks can earn NFL credibility by outperforming the competition.
South Alabama’s Brandon Bridge made a name for himself this summer by reaching the final of the Air-It-Out Challenge, which requires hitting a moving golf cart at 10- and 20-yard distances, as well as deep down the sideline. He beat out more than three dozen college quarterbacks, including Oregon's Marcus Mariota, Baylor’s Bryce Petty and BYU’s Taysom Hill.
Bridge received a pep talk from Eli Manning before facing Oregon State’s Sean Mannion in the final: “Go win this thing and shock the world,” Manning told him.
The 6-5, 235-pound Bridge ended up losing, but his arm strength and accuracy amid the cluster of top talent prompted some to wonder: “Where did he come from?” He's from Canada, where Bridge played 12-man football and eventually earned a scholarship to Alcorn State. “It’s been a crazy ride,” Bridge said, “but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
Bridge began his journey some 30 minutes outside his native Toronto, where he led St. Marcellinus Secondary School to back-to-back provincial championships. In Canadian high school football, there are 12 players on the field per team and exponentially more pre-snap movement, making nearly every play a dizzying array of bodies and motion. “It’s a total different game,” Bridge said.
The rules make it difficult for American coaches to evaluate quarterbacks. During Bridge’s junior season in 2008, he caught the eye of then-Buffalo offensive coordinator Danny Barrett. But Bridge’s scholarship opportunity disappeared when Buffalo head coach Turner Gill left for Kansas in December '09. Akron expressed interest in Bridge playing a different position, but he insisted on remaining a quarterback. He even considered playing college football in Canada.
Alcorn State finally offered him after he linked up with former Northern Illinois defensive end Curtis Crossley, a recruiting service consultant who saw Bridge’s highlight tape on YouTube and contacted him via Facebook. All Bridge knew about the FCS school was that it produced former NFL quarterback Steve “Air” McNair.
After racking up 2,687 yards of total offense as a freshman in 2010, Bridge earned his own nickname: “Air Canada.” There was a coaching change that offseason, but Bridge elected to stay. He started the first five games the following year, but decided to transfer after an injury. He eventually got a call from then-Mississippi State offensive coordinator Les Koenning, now wide receivers coach at Texas.
The Bulldogs were interested in Bridge, but coach Dan Mullen ultimately didn’t offer him. Koenning wanted to help Bridge and put him in touch with South Alabama, where Koenning had been offensive coordinator in 2008. Jaguars coach Joey Jones thought Bridge might be better off at wide receiver. Still, he took him. Bridge redshirted in '12 and was the backup quarterback last season.
All the while, Bridge has overhauled his throwing motion and honed his footwork. Now, the redshirt senior is a starter for a team entering its second season in the Sun Belt and as a full FBS member. “He’s got to go out there and get it done, but there’s no doubt he’s got the abilities to do so,” Jones said. “It’s fun to watch a young man that’s improved just a hundredfold.”
There’s never been a question about Bridge’s physical skills. The right-hander can throw the ball 70 to 75 yards and can split the uprights while throwing from midfield on his knees. He can also throw more than 30 yards with his left hand.
That arm strength shined through at the Manning Camp. He got his invite to the annual event from his personal quarterback coach David Morris (Eli Manning’s backup at Ole Miss), but wasn’t in awe of the star power. “I just thought to myself, I’m the best guy in here,” Bridge said. “I had that mindset I’m going to show these guys that I can play at their school or I can be better than them.”
Bridge will get a few more chances this season with games against Mississippi State and at South Carolina. In the meantime, agents have been calling him since his impressive showing.
Bridge hopes to gain the attention of Drake, another Toronto product who was once an unknown. He listens to the rapper so much that some of his teammates call him Drake.
“I want to be that icon for Canada as well,” Bridge said.
Bridge started from the bottom but now his opportunity is finally here.
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USA QB Brandon Bridge in Sports Illustrated Article
