This week on the Instinctive Scouting Podcast, two-time NFL general manager Scot McCloughan joins our own Rob Rang to break down the often-discussed (but rarely understood) process that is the NFL’s College Advisory Committee for underclassmen. Scot recalls his days as a general manager and area scout writing reviews of former early entrants into the NFL and gives his advice on who young prospects should be talking to (and who they should not) as they consider one of the most impactful decisions of their young lives.

The underclassmen conversation shifts to the quarterbacks with opinions shared on the top prospects potentially available, like Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins, Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Oklahoma’s newest Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray, who Scot suggests will have plenty of NFL teams as fans should he decide to pursue football rather than focus on baseball as Murray’s agent has suggested he will.

While quarterbacks get most of the buzz, Scot and Rob return to their old-school roots in the final segment this week, focusing on linebackers – a position perhaps even more important in today’s era of RPOs and unique skill-position players than ever before. Scot looks back on helping to draft Bobby Wagner and KJ Wright in Seattle, as well as Patrick Willis in San Francisco. Rob goes way back to the year 2000 with the first college middle linebacker that captured his attention with his playmaking ability and perfect linebacker mentality and Scot shares the name of a linebacker that he tried to trade up for and select for the 49ers but was unable to do so.

As always, thanks for listening!