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 NCAA Scouting – Player Profile:
Brian Brohm, QB
by Paul Hopkins
16/3/2008
A year ago, Brian Brohm was expected to enter the NFL. However, he deferred entering the draft in order to return to Louisville to try and win them a National Championship. The prospect as we look at it now, knowing what happened next, may seem laughable, but it was a very real prospect. So, now, a year on, this talented quarterback is becoming a professional.
Brohm followed in the footsteps of father, Oscar, and brother, Jeff, by becoming a starting quarterback at the University of Louisville in 2005. His brother, Greg, also played at Louisville as a receiver.
 In his first year, despite not starting a game, Brohm was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year, completing 66 of 98 passes for 819 yards and six touchdowns. The following season, in 2005, Brohm became the starter. He passed for 2,883 yards and 19 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending knee injury in a game against Syracuse on November 25, forcing him to miss Louisville’s last regular season game against Connecticut, and the Gator Bowl defeat to Virginia Tech.
The injury bug hit Brohm again in his junior season. A thumb injury suffered against Miami caused him to miss another month of the season. At this point, Brohm was seen as a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate. He capped his season off with MVP honours in Louisville’s first ever BCS victory over Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl.
After his decision to stay in college, Brohm’s campaign to win the Heisman got off to a flying start but Louisville’s defence was their achilles heel and they slumped to a 6-6 record, not even qualifying for a Bowl game. Despite this, Brohm’s figures were still impressive. He completed 308 of 473 passes for 4,024 yards for 30 touchdown and 12 interceptions, giving him a QB Rating of 152.
Brian Brohm started 33 games at Louisville. He closed out his career as the Big East Conference’s all-time leader in passing yardage, becoming the first player in league history to throw for over 10,000 yards (10,775) He finished second on the UL career list with 780 pass completions and 1,185 pass attempts, as his completion percentage (.658) is the fifth-best mark among NCAA quarterbacks active last season. He compiled a 24-9 record as a starter for the Cardinals.
What we like about Brohm
 Brohm has the size to be a top NFL quarterback. His mechanics are sound, and a strong arm. Intelligence and football know-how is very high indeed. Consequently there are rarely poor decisions made by Brohm.
He is keen to develop himself further and shows good application to improvement. He has a quick release as well as good accuracy. Combine those with his high intelligence and turnovers are a rare thing.
Brohm moves around well in the pocket and is not afraid to take a hit whilst making a pass. However, he possesses poise to make sure that the ball still gets to its target.
He has the full confidence of his team mates and is in control of the huddle.
Few young quarterbacks have the poise standing in the pocket that Brohm shows.
Question marks over Brohm
He has been injured for considerable periods of his college career and that will concern franchises. A torn ACL in 2005, torn ligaments in his thumb in 2006 and surgery to repair his non-throwing shoulder in January 2007 will be studied closely.
Brohm is not a particularly vocal leader on the field and may need to improve on this in the pro’s.
Other snippets
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In the NFL today, Brohm is similar to Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints.
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Was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 49th round of the 2004 MLB amateur draft.
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