Scouts are drawing bold parallels to Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, but Brendan Sorsby’s journey to NFL stardom must first weather legal hurdles and serious character concerns.
Brendan Sorsby hasn't won a game in Lubbock yet.
But he's won in Lubbock.
The QB's victory in the courtroom as he wins his fight aganst the NCAA's ineligibility ruling due to his alleged gambling addiction is a massive one for Texas Tech in 2026.
He will now sit out two games to start the season for Texas Tech in 2026, and then will work to contribute to what might be a national title contender.
And then, eventually, he's going to the NFL.
And in conjunction with that fact comes the NFL scouting "comps.'' ... which include one that sees Sorsby's talents being ranked right alongside those of Tech legend Patrick Mahomes.
Yes, seriously.
Former Dallas Cowboys scout Brian Broaddus has compared aspects of Sorsby's game to Aaron Rodgers (as a passer) and to Cam Newton (as a runner). That's pretty wild.
But SI tops that as it quotes "one NFC offensive coordinator'' as saying, “I hate to say it, you hate to make this comparison to (Patrick) Mahomes and Caleb (Williams), but he has that twitch, the arm angles of (Matthew) Stafford. His arm is electric.''
Good Lord! Sorsby is an "electric'' combination of Rodgers, Cam, Caleb, Stafford and Mahomes?
And as for the 2027 NFL Draft? Well, shoot, he's going No. 1 overall, right? Ahead of Texas Longhorns star Arch Manning and all the rest, right?
But what about the gambling?
Oh, yeah. That.
The two NFL scouts that I talked to aren't nearly as high on Sorsby as the aforementioned guys. They call him a "thrower'' who needs to learn to be a "passer'' ... and contrary to the above raves, they don't think he's in the same class with, say, Manning, who I say figures to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
But they are also cautious about the idea of a young man with an admitted gambling addiction being brought onboard in almost any capacity - but especially with first-round-related billing as "a savior.''
Said one: "A scouting report that doesn't include where this kid's head is at is not only incomplete, it's irresponsible.''
Added the other (regarding the No. 1-overall-pick angle): "I'll bet you a million bucks that at this point, no scout is daring to say that to his GM.''
For now? Sorsby is where he needs to be, developing his game in college under a coach in Red Raiders boss Joey McGuire, who sincerely cares about guiding his kids. (And competing for a national title, too, of course).
And next year? It's going to take a scout/coach/GM with a huge set of cojones to tell his owner that all the problems are solvable and that he should bet the farm on Sorsby.
But ...
If some scout is willing to testify that Sorsby is Rodgers/Cam/Caleb/Stafford/Mahomes in waiting? He'll probably have a brilliant career - just as long as he "bets on it'' figuratively and not literally.
First things first, though. Sorsby is a college QB with a lot to learn - on the field and off.
