Philadelphia Eagles: Could Rutgers QB Kyle Bolin actually stick around?

After bouncing around the college football world, could former Rutgers quarterback Kyle Bolin defy the odds and make the Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster?

Though the 2018 NFL Draft is firmly behind us, the Philadelphia Eagles are still doing whatever they can to acquire top-flight talent to their roster moving forward and may have stumbled upon a potential diamond in the rough in ex-Rutgers starting quarterback Kyle Bolin.

Bolin, a 3-star recruit from Lexington, Kentucky began his college football career at Louisville under the watchful eye of Bobby Petrino but quickly fell behind a then-unknown player named Lamar Jackson on the team’s depth chart.

Though he never received a true opportunity to flourish as the Cardinals’ unquestioned starting quarterback, Bolin did play fairly well when given a chance to see the field, completing 58 percent of his passes for 2104 yards and a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 13-10.

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With the writing on the wall that he would never be a starting quarterback in Louisville, Bolin took his services to the Big 10 as a graduate transfer to lead Jerry Kill‘s pro-style offense in Piscataway, New Jersey, as the starting quarterback for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights.

But much like at Louisville, Bolin again wasn’t given an opportunity to show the world what he’s capable of.

Playing in one of the most run-heavy offenses in the Power 5, Bolin was delegated to a game manager role and struggled to the Rutgers offense potent coming off of a 2-10 record in 2016.

After losing four of the team’s first five games, Bolin was ultimately demoted from his starting role, and after attempting only two passes in the team’s Week 6 win over Lovie Smith‘s Illinois Fighting Illini remained on the bench for the remainder of the season.

So, how could a player who couldn’t even start consistently at Rutgers suddenly turn things around, and turn a rookie minicamp invite into a spot on an NFL roster?

Simply put, Bolin has never had a true opportunity to thrive in a scheme that fits his skill set.

Ranked the 30th best pocket passer in the 2013 recruiting class, Bolin was obviously miscast as a backup to the run ‘n gun playing style of Jackson at Louisville, and had even less success as a game manager in Kill’s LSU-style ground and pound scheme, but in the Eagles’ current scheme, where the quarterback facilitates the ball like an NBA point guard, he may finally find a home.

Though the Eagles depth chart looks pretty set at this point with Carson Wentz, Nick Foles, and Nate Sudfeld seeming locked in at first, second and third string respectively, the team did just sign Delaware native Joe Callahan to a two-year, non-guaranteed contract, so there is obviously some interest in bringing in another developmental arm to take valuable reps in the preseason, and potentially develop on the practice squad.

If, for some reason, Wentz were to start out the season on IR, or Foles were to be traded to another team it would appear as though Callahan gives the team a solid third-string option with NFL experience, but if the depth chart stands pat, it seems unlikely that the Delaware native would pass through waivers and be available to sign to the team’s practice squad.

Bolin, on the other hand, should be able to breeze right through waivers.

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While it seems incredibly unlikely that Bolin will make the Eagles 53 man roster, and may not even make the 90 man roster going into the summer, with a chance to finally show what he can do in a scheme that fits his skillset, don’t be surprised to watch the former Scarlet Knight take snaps in the preseason, and find a home on the Eagles practice squad in 2018.

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