http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/12/...fords-sun-bowl-bowl-opponent-a-perfect-match/
"There are reasons for Bay Area football fans to watch the Sun Bowl even though Stanford star Christian McCaffrey isn’t playing.
Atop the list is the player atop the lists: North Carolina junior Mitch Trubisky, projected to be the No. 1 quarterback picked in the upcoming NFL draft, could be starting for the 49ers next season.
“I don’t believe there’s a first-round quarterback outside of Trubisky,’’ ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said. “Teams reach for quarterbacks, overdraft quarterbacks, all the time.”
Several steps separate Trubisky, who reportedly received a first-round grade from the NFL’s Draft Advisory Board, from becoming the franchise quarterback at Levi’s Stadium.
*** He must leave school, and that’s not a given. Trubisky plans to delay the decision until after the Sun Bowl on Friday. (The deadline for early-entry players to declare for the draft is Jan. 16.)
*** The 49ers must be in position to select Trubisky. They’re currently slotted for the No. 2 pick, with quarterback-needy Cleveland holding the top spot.
*** Management must determine Trubisky is worth the investment.
“For all of Trubisky’s talent,’’ CBSSports.com draft analyst Rob Rang noted in an email, “the fact that he was unable to earn a starting role until this, his third full season with the Tar Heels, is a bit disconcerting.’’
Trubisky’s climb up the draft boards has been as swift as that of any quarterback in recent years."
"There are reasons for Bay Area football fans to watch the Sun Bowl even though Stanford star Christian McCaffrey isn’t playing.
Atop the list is the player atop the lists: North Carolina junior Mitch Trubisky, projected to be the No. 1 quarterback picked in the upcoming NFL draft, could be starting for the 49ers next season.
“I don’t believe there’s a first-round quarterback outside of Trubisky,’’ ESPN analyst Mel Kiper said. “Teams reach for quarterbacks, overdraft quarterbacks, all the time.”
Several steps separate Trubisky, who reportedly received a first-round grade from the NFL’s Draft Advisory Board, from becoming the franchise quarterback at Levi’s Stadium.
*** He must leave school, and that’s not a given. Trubisky plans to delay the decision until after the Sun Bowl on Friday. (The deadline for early-entry players to declare for the draft is Jan. 16.)
*** The 49ers must be in position to select Trubisky. They’re currently slotted for the No. 2 pick, with quarterback-needy Cleveland holding the top spot.
*** Management must determine Trubisky is worth the investment.
“For all of Trubisky’s talent,’’ CBSSports.com draft analyst Rob Rang noted in an email, “the fact that he was unable to earn a starting role until this, his third full season with the Tar Heels, is a bit disconcerting.’’
Trubisky’s climb up the draft boards has been as swift as that of any quarterback in recent years."
