There’s a quiet assassin in this NFL Draft class that nobody’s really talking about. While most eyeballs are glued to the flashy names up top, this underrated ex-Ohio State QB’s stat line from last season speaks louder than any mock draft projection. Over 8,500 passing yards in his college career. Led the entire nation in pass completions, attempts, and yards. Top 10 in the Heisman voting. Oh, and he orchestrated a 10-win campaign at Syracuse, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly a traditional football powerhouse. Despite all this, his draft stock has hovered beneath the radar. But now, with the draft looming, he’s finally breaking his silence on his Buckeyes exit, revealing that he was ‘scapegoated’ in Columbus. So, who’s this asset?
In a recent conversation with Rich Eisen, Kyle McCord got real about how things unraveled in Columbus and how it shaped his football journey. Eisen asked McCord: “Do you feel you were scapegoated by Ohio State?” He replied: “I wouldn’t say that—I mean, listen, I’ll tell you, just as much as any coach, any player in that facility—you know I wish that in 2023 we would’ve won that game,” McCord said, referencing the Buckeyes’ third straight loss to Michigan. “Obviously, if we win that game, there’s a good chance I’m a Buckeye in 2024. But that’s just the reality of college football now, I feel like, especially at a school like that. There’s a lot of pressure to win every year. It’s national championship or the season’s a failure.”
That final loss to Michigan wasn’t just another ‘L’. It was a seismic aftershock that jolted Ohio State’s internal power structure. Kyle McCord, once seen as the heir apparent, became an unexpected casualty. “You know, it’s the third straight time losing to Michigan,” he added. “So, I get that they felt like changes needed to be made, and that was really my first taste of the business side of things.” With blunt honesty, McCord admitted the transfer decision wasn’t painless. “It wasn’t necessarily an easy decision to leave. It wasn’t an easy thing to do. But obviously it worked out for me and worked out for them. I think it’s one of those rare cases in the transfer portal where both sides benefit from it.”
Credit: Imago
Indeed, McCord’s move to Cuse was more than just a restart—it was a complete recalibration. Not only did he thrive in the ACC, but he also led the Orange to a double-digit win season. Something that still turns heads in NFL circles. A veteran NFL scout broke it down simply: “When you’re evaluating quarterbacks, it’s the whole package,” the scout said. “It’s obviously the traits, it’s the mental makeup, it’s the history of coaching he’s had, all of that. But it’s how he handles adversity as much as anything.”
And McCord’s path has been paved with adversity and answered with poise. “Here’s a kid who was a 5-star [recruit], plays well at Ohio State, but fans turn on him after losing one time to Michigan,” the scout pointed out. “Then he goes to Syracuse and wins 10 games—at Syracuse.” That statement isn’t a backhanded slight at the program; it’s a testament to the sheer improbability of McCord’s success there. A decade ago, a 10-win season in upstate New York would’ve sounded like science fiction.
Then came the moment that put a cherry on McCord’s resurgence. He derailed Miami’s playoff hopes, delivering a dagger that made every scout lean just a little closer. That’s not just a box score moment; that’s NFL tape material. Pressure game. National spotlight. Executed with cold-blooded precision.
Kyle McCord’s calm clapback after spoiling Miami’s CFP dreams
Kyle McCord isn’t one to spike the football and talk trash — but when asked about his showdown with Cam Ward and that wild win over the Canes, he made sure his point was clear. Quiet confidence? Oh yeah, it’s there.
“Yeah, I mean, I wouldn’t say I outperformed him or anything like that,” McCord said when reflecting on the game. “But when it came down to it, I think that our offense made just enough plays to win.” And hey, he’s got a point — McCord’s Syracuse squad knocked Miami out of ACC title contention in their final regular season game. For a QB trying to boost his stock, that’s a pretty loud statement. “It was a big, big game for both of us,” McCord added. “Honestly, the biggest game of the year for them and for us as well.”
But he didn’t stop there. “Being able to win… kind of stamped what I was telling teams — that I have the ability to go out and win those big games and be able to put up points.” And just like that, McCord’s ACC finale turned into a quiet mic drop. A performance that scouts are definitely still talking about.
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