Sam Darnold and Josh Allen are close in preparation, far apart in approach at NFL combine

USC product Sam Darnold could wind up being drafted first overall next month. (Kelvin Kuo/AP, File)

INDIANAPOLIS — Sam Darnold and Josh Allen have grown close while rooming and training together with former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer in San Clemente, Calif., in preparation for the NFL Draft. Either quarterback could go No. 1 overall.

The two, however, presented vastly different approaches when asked who is the best quarterback in the class on Friday.

Darnold, the USC product, avoided the question like the plague and said that’s not up to him to decide. Allen, the fast-rising Wyoming star, had plenty to say.

“Absolutely,” Allen said when asked if he’s the best. “I don’t mean to say that in a cocky way, but I think every quarterback should think that. If you’re not thinking you’re the best quarterback in this draft, you probably shouldn’t be here.

“Everybody does things well in their own aspect. We’re all different. We all have our plusses and minuses. But if you don’t have the mind-set that you’re the best quarterback in this draft, you’re not going to fare well in this league.”

[The NFL’s quarterback market is bursting with options for a change]

The modest Darnold (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) won’t throw at the NFL combine during the quarterback session on Saturday, after deciding to wait for his Pro Day. He said there’s no injury issue.

“I felt like it was the best decision for me,” Darnold said. “I’m obviously going to throw at my Pro Day and I think that’s a good opportunity for teams to be able to look at how I spin it and I’m going to be throwing to guys that I play with. Given all the information that I have, I thought that was the best decision.”

While people have nitpicked Darnold’s rangy throwing motion, the turnover issue has been his biggest question mark. He threw for 4,143 yards and 26 touchdowns with a 63.1 completion percentage in 2017, but the Trojan also threw 13 interceptions and had 11 fumbles.

“The No. 1 priority of a quarterback is to protect the football,” Darnold said. “I’m aware of that and I’m aware of how much I turn the ball over and it’s not okay. I’ve been addressing it this offseason. I’ve been working on keeping two hands [on the ball] in the pocket at all times. The only time I let go of the ball is to throw it. … And also just keeping it tight when I tuck it and run.

“It was just some split-second decision-making that led to some of the turnovers. One thing I really need to work on is the fumbles. That’s something that can’t happen.”

While Darnold was an elite prospect coming out of high school, Allen was writing letters from Reedley Junior College to coaches begging for an opportunity. The 6-5, 233-pounder wound up at Wyoming and was likely the only one to imagine he could throw for 3,202 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2016.

“Taking this all in is a really surreal moment,” Allen said. “Just to kind of see everything I dreamed of as a kid, it’s kind of falling into place. If you knew who I was three years ago, I don’t think you’d say this is possible. I was at junior college begging teams to give me a scholarship.”

The big, strong farm kid from Firebaugh, Calif. is known for his arm strength and mobility, but has had accuracy issues. He never completed more than 56 percent of his passes for a season at Wyoming, and that was against lesser competition.

“Just working on consistent footwork,” Allen said. “Kind of every throw that I had this season where I missed, it was derived from my feet. … I feel like whenever my feet are set, I’m as accurate as anybody. You see a lot of smaller-school guys go to the NFL and have success. Carson Wentz, Derek Carr for example.”

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