cowboyjoe
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Locker's first season under Steve Sarkisian may have been impressive enough to have earned him the top spot in the NFL Draft over Sam Bradford last year if the UW passer left school early, as many expected.
Locker enjoyed career highs in nearly every passing category his junior season, completing 58.2 percent of his passes for 2,800 passing yards (the third-highest total in UW history) with 21 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions. With 388 rushing yards (and seven touchdowns) as well, Locker returns to the Huskies as the Pac-10's reigning leader in total offense (3,188) and touchdowns scored (28).
His progress throughout the 2009 season, undeniable upside and greater health over Bradford certainly would have led to some internal debate within the St. Louis brain trust, league sources have said. That was clearly the feeling among scouts who, like me, attended Washington's dismantling of No. 19 Cal in the 2009 season finale.
Locker earned Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Week honors for his play in that game, completing 19 of 23 passes for 248 yards and three scores. He also ran for 77 yards and another two scores.
With the hype at its peak and prominent scouts in the stands, Locker was at his best. One highly placed scout in attendance compared Locker's "clutch" performance in what many were expecting to be his final collegiate game to the one enjoyed by Mark Sanchez against Penn State a year earlier in the Rose Bowl. That game, more than any workout, pushed Sanchez from a fringe first-round pick to the No. 5 overall selection. There was enough hype that Locker had to at least consider his options.
