INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Fresno State QB Jake Haener takes to the podium to speak with the media.
Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Combine began on Friday, and quarterbacks were finally up to speak. Among the signal callers to address the media was Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener.
Raiders’ All-Pro wideout Davante Adams is a Fresno State alum, as is now former-Raider Derek Carr. The pair rewrote the school’s record books, setting a new standard at Fresno.
I asked Haener to speak about the standard Adams and Carr set for all present and future alum.
“It’s an elite standard,” Haener told me. “Davante elevated the standard in the receiver room, and I think Jalen [Cropper] is trying to uphold that. It’s been great to continue having high-quality talent come out of the valley.”
The Fresno State signal caller also spoke of the lineage of excellent passers to come out of the school, starting with Kevin Sweeney and leading to Trent Dilfer, David Carr, then Derek.
Don’t forget Haener himself.
Jake Haener on what makes him stand out in this year’s draft class
Throughout his three years at Fresno, Haener was able to make a name for himself. The 23-year-old totaled 9,013 passing yards and 67 passing touchdowns during this time frame, throwing only 17 interceptions in the process.
I asked Haener what he thought separated himself from other quarterback prospects in this year’s draft. His answer: preparation and standard.
“My preparation, my standard, my process. Those sort of things, for me, those are what really stand out,” Haener said. “It’s never been because I’m more athletic or physically better than anyone else, I just think I prepare at a higher level and take care of my body better,” he added.
He may be onto something about his preparation. During his senior year, Haener set career-highs in quarterback rating, yards per attempt and completion percentage. At the Senior Bowl, Haener was named MVP.
Haener has confirmed he’s met with the Raiders, and that [Derek] Carr is one of his mentors. Could the next quarterback for the Silver and Black also come from Fresno?
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