Cal quarterback Jared Goff is a couple of light-years away from Aaron Rodgers when it comes to football accomplishments, but as a rising star who is considered a strong draft prospect at the position, the similarities between the two at the college level aren't far off.
And for Texas defensive coordinator Vance Bedford, they're downright legitimate.
"This is Aaron Rodgers. He's the real deal. This young man is exceptional," Bedford said of Goff, per Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman. Bedford went on to call Goff one of the best quarterbacks he's ever faced at the college level, which is high praise coming from a coach who has been a defensive assistant at the major college or NFL level since 1987.
Goff will visit the Longhorns on Saturday for a non-conference game that could help solidify his standing as one of the top pro quarterback prospects in the college game. He's a junior, so it could be 2017 before he enters the NFL draft.
He's been outstanding this season in getting the Golden Bears off to a 2-0 start, albeit against questionable competition (San Diego State, Grambling State). The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Goff has completed 41 of 56 passes for 630 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
Rodgers left Cal after his junior season in 2004 and became the No. 24 overall pick of the Green Bay Packers, where he sat behind Brett Favre before developing into one of the NFL's best passers.
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