Princeton's Chad Kanoff checks a lot of the boxes when it comes to what Patriots like in a QB

Let me give you a chance to convince you why Princeton quarterback Chad Kanoff — yes, Princeton — could be on the Patriots’ radar this spring.

First, Kanoff isn’t your average Ivy League quarterback. He turned down a shot at the SEC (specifically, Vanderbilt) to go to Princeton. The Patriots treasure accuracy in their quarterbacks, and Kanoff’s control was among the best in college football — he led the FCS with a 73 percent completion rate last year. And along the way, he broke the Ivy League single-season mark for passing yards with 3,474. His hand size measured 10¼ inches, which is above average — in the past, former GM Scott Pioli has referenced hand size as being important when it comes to looking for quarterbacks, as bad weather and ball control can sometimes be a factor when it comes to playing in Foxborough.

Oh, and he’s repped by Don Yee. The same guy who represents Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo. For a team like the Patriots in the market for a developmental quarterback, Kanoff certainly has a lot of what New England looks for in a young signal-caller.


There will be the inevitable questions about the competition that Kanoff faced in college. But as Princeton head coach Bob Surace hinted here, if you remove Kanoff from his Ivy League environment and put him at a high-profile Pro Day, he’d look like a second-day pick. The fact is the California native was put through a private workout recently by the Patriots, and they weren't the only team interested -- his Pro Day performance opened the eyes of many quarterback-starved teams out there, including the Cardinals.

The bottom line? He's not Josh Allen, Sam Darnold or Josh Rosen. And he might even be at the back end of that secondary tier of quarterbacks, a group that includes Kyle Lauletta. But you talk to people around the league, and it’s clear they see Kanoff as a legitimate pro prospect. While he’ll likely have to wait until Day Three of the draft — or later as a UDFA — he could very easily be a potential target for New England later this month.



“He’s unbelievably accurate, so much so that it’s laughable,” Princeton offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson said of Kanoff. “There were times in practice this past year where the ball never touched the ground. He’s very bright, and has a polished release. It’s like watching one of those great golf or tennis swings — just a classic release. It’s a thing of beauty to watch him throw the football.”

Kanoff is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds and was part of a quarterbacking rotation early on in his collegiate career. But he assumed the starters’ role in 2016, and finished with a 62 percent completion rate to go along with 1,741 yards and six touchdowns, all while helping Princeton lead the Ivy League in scoring (34.6), total (415.5), and rushing (183.2) yards. This past year, he put together one of the finest seasons of quarterback play in Ivy League history, shattering most major school passing records, and either coming close or breaking league marks.

His crowning achievement? Per Gleeson, it was his performance against Harvard where he quarterbacked the Tigers to a 52-17 win over the Crimson.

“Everything points to that Harvard game,” Gleeson said. “He completed 20 straight passes and threw for 421 yards. He played dynamite, and we beat them 52-17. He broke the FCS record for completion percentage in a game (89 percent on 31-for-35 passing). He was incredible to watch the whole night. It was a big stage for us going up against a really great program, and he was just unbelievable. That was a really great night.”

Here's a look at some of his throws against Harvard, as well as some of his better throws from the rest of the 2017 season.



Yes, his games were being played in Cambridge and Hanover and not, say, Happy Valley. But Kanoff was making good throws into some tight windows, driving the ball downfield and displaying good mechanics.

Gleeson stresses that when it comes to playing on Sundays, Kanoff isn’t a finished product. But his background, accuracy and willingness to work make him the sort of quarterback who will be able to make that transition sooner rather than later.

“He will be able to learn an NFL offense in no time,” Gleeson said. “His game is more suited to the pro game, because he’s a prototypical drop-back passer. Much of the narrative around college quarterbacks is whether or not they’ll be able to handle the change from college to the pros. It won’t be a problem with Chad — he has transferrable skills.”

“Every day he was exploring weaknesses to improve upon. When I’ve talked to NFL guys — and if he has spoken with them too — the first thing, if you’re candid, is the fact that he doesn’t have the arm strength of a Josh Allen. But once people turn on the tape and find out how smart he is and see his frame, he’ll have a long life in the NFL because of how accurate he is.”