As the college football season begins and hundreds of future NFL Draft prospects are given the opportunity to impact their stock. While the draft may be months away, everyone still has questions about prospects or a position. The question can range from anything to comparing two players or asking for an opinion on a certain player. Whatever your question is, this mailbag is the place to learn and have your questions answered. We can all learn from each other and that is the goal for this mailbag.

@DLBScouting: Who is the better quarterback prospect: UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley or Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota?

A question that caused a big debate on Twitter this past week. Both Hundley and Mariota are redshirt sophomores who started for the first time last season. While both are excellent prospects who could emerge as top picks in the future, I give the edge to Mariota.

I am a believer in Hundley and understand why he was limited to short throws last season, but that isn’t what separates the two. Both Mariota and Hundley didn’t have a lot of chances to stretch the field and show scouts their arm strength. Now as they enter their second season as starters, the offense should open up more for them and we can see a greater display of their arm strength and accuracy when going down the field. They are both incredible athletes who can roll out on the play action or tuck the ball and run. As Colin Kaepernick and Robert Griffin III take the stage in the NFL, Mariota and Hundley become more coveted.

The difference between Hundley and Mariota for me comes down to potential. While I believe both players have the chance to deliver on their talents, I think Mariota is the more gifted prospect. He is a bit leaner than Hundley, but offers even more athleticism while not compromising arm strength or accuracy. His delivery is more refined than Hundley’s and both quarterbacks struggle inside the pocket. If you were to build a prototype quarterback, you would end up with Mariota. He needs to show this season that he can stay in the pocket and make his reads down field, rather than rolling out and going with the first read which may not always be there. While some will point to Oregon’s system as a reason for Mariota’s success, I firmly believe while it has helped the young quarterback, his talent can carry the Ducks this season.

Hundley and Mariota are eligible for the 2014 NFL Draft and if they have strong seasons, both could emerge as early first-round picks. But if I were to choose between the two, I will take Mariota over Hundley.

@TylerMoore614: What do you think of Vanderbilt receiver Jordan Matthews? How early do you think he will be picked?

I have quickly become a fan of Jordan Matthews and after his gritty performance against Ole Miss; he looks poised for an outstanding senior season. While two plays will stand out from the game, his performance was about more than that.

Matthews took a big hit across the middle and when he came down, slammed his head against the turf. He stayed down on the field with trainers and was seen vomiting, leading many to believe it was a concussion and he would miss the game. But just minutes later, Matthews got back out onto the field and hauled in a 42-yard catch and run down the sidelines to set up Vanderbilt for the score. Unfortunately, Vanderbilt gave up the lead and on their last drive of the game Matthews let a ball slip right through his hands and it resulted in an interception. Overshadowing his excellent night with 10 receptions for 178 yards and a touchdown.

What stands out about Matthews is his size at 6’ 3” he has the ability to go up and get the football. He can beat smaller corners with his size and outmuscle them to get the football, and he also has the speed to beat more physical corners. He tracks the ball well and isn’t afraid to go across the middle when his team needs him. He will never be a great vertical threat at the next level and he won’t often make defenders miss with elusive moves. But he can emerge as the second receiver for an offense and a go-to option inside the red zone. I think his best comparison would be James Jones who had his breakout season last year. Matthews should hear his name called late in the first round or early in the second.

@PFF_JCollacchi: How do you feel about San Jose State quarterback David Fales, where do you rank him amongst your quarterback prospects?

I feel like in the right system Fales can be a starting quarterback in the NFL, and potentially start right away for the team that drafts him. Despite playing for a smaller school like San Jose State, Fales has shined the past year and emerged as one of the better senior quarterback prospects.

Fales is far from a gunslinger; if you are relying on him to throw it deep down the field you are going to end up with a lot of turnovers and incompletions. While Fales is a very smart and accurate quarterback on short and medium routes, his accuracy disappears when the Spartans go deep. But his smaller arm can be compensated for with the short, quick throws that San Jose likes to use. It helps keep the defense from creating a lot of pressure, and moves the chains and can also help tire down the defense.

In order for Fales to succeed as a starting quarterback in the NFL, he will need to land with a team that loves to run the football. He isn’t the modern quarterback who can roll out into the pocket and run option plays, but his intelligence and instincts can make up for it. While he may never be a star in this league, Fales could end up as a 10-year player who keeps his team in the playoff hunt every year but can’t carry them to the Super Bowl. He is a safe prospect but will likely be a day two prospect.

@VincentFrankNFL: Who is the better defensive prospect between Notre Dame defensive end Stephon Tuitt or defensive tackle Louis Nix III

Without question, I believe Nix is the best defensive prospect for the Fighting Irish. Tuitt and Nix will both end up as first-round picks but Nix has the best chance to be a big-time player in the NFL.
Nix is a monster at 6’3” 330 lbs. he is an unmovable force on the inside, who can plug up the middle of the field and force the running game to the outside. But what makes Nix really special is his sneaky explosiveness. He is a powerful man, but his quick burst off the snap enables him to get engaged with the lineman where he can dominate him with his power and quick hands. That combination of power, size and explosiveness off the line is a scary combination for a defensive tackle and makes him such a highly regarded prospect.

Tuitt needs to show more consistency this season and that very well could happen if he can stay healthy. He has an excellent mix of size and speed, but he needs more work before he could surpass his teammate. If Tuitt can improve as a pass rusher, developing a better arsenal of rush moves and can become a more explosive player with his hands. Like Nix, Tuitt brings the versatility to play in a 43 or 34 defense and has even more room to grow.

Both have bright futures in the NFL, but having a player like Nix who can plug the running lanes and get after the quarterback. It is rare to find a player with Nix’s size who brings the explosiveness and motor that he offers. Nix could wind up as a top 10 pick, while Tuitt likely is selected in the middle of the first round.