NFL Draft 2022: What Western Kentucky QB Bailey Zappe brings to the New England Patriots

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Bailey Zappe is not just another Air Raid guy. The Patriots understand that. It’s why they selected him in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He can’t wait to prove them right, just as he proved himself every step of the way during his college career.

New England just landed the guy who just pulled off the most prolific season ever seen by a college quarterback: 5,967 passing yards, 65 total touchdowns. Zappe did it in his first and only season playing at the FBS level, but he certainly was no one-year wonder. He’s been on a five-year journey from anonymity to hard-earned stardom.

Zappe was a no-star recruit coming out of Victoria, Texas, whose only scholarship offer took him to FCS Houston Baptist. He earned the starting job as a true freshman, but his career didn’t take off until 2018 when Zach Kittley, a Kliff Kingsbury protégé, arrived as the Huskies’ new offensive coordinator. He let Zappe throw it 45-50 times a game, and together they built one of the most thrilling offenses in the country led by a 10,000-yard passer. Then they took their talents to the next level.

Zappe, Kittley and their top three wideouts made the move to Western Kentucky in 2021. It was a bold bet, one you rarely see, and it certainly paid off. Zappe quickly won over his new team and proved that, even against better competition, he’s got the goods to score on anyone. The Hilltoppers scored an FBS-high 619 points and racked up more than 7,500 yards over their 14 games. Zappe averaged 49 passes per game and still completed nearly 70 percent. A tough nonconference schedule led to a 1-4 start, but Zappe rallied. He led his squad on a seven-game win streak in league play to reach the Conference USA title game.

“The biggest thing Bailey carried on a weekly basis was that, no matter the situation, he was such a leader on the field,” Kittley said. “That really showed up in the conference championship game against UTSA. We were down 29 points. I’m telling you, our offense never blinked. Because they knew we’ve got Bailey Zappe back there and we can score at will.”

He threw for 577 yards that night, nearly bringing his team all the way back in a 49-41 defeat. But Zappe left no doubt he’d always belonged at this level. Now he must do the same as a pro. Kittley is a bit biased, of course, but he’s confident Zappe’s impressive football IQ, arm talent and work ethic will translate. Their offense was more complex than it looked, and Kittley put a lot on Zappe’s plate because he could handle it. The OC trusts his guy can develop and perform in any offensive system.

“He’s 100 percent got what it takes to be a starter,” Kittley said.

Dane Brugler on Bailey Zappe (No. 7 QB in The Beast)

With the offense ingrained in him, Zappe was a rhythmic decision-maker in college and knew where to go with the football and how to stay on time. But his average arm strength and inconsistencies when asked to anticipate or make full-field reads will be tough to overcome vs. NFL speed. Overall, there is nothing explosive about his arm or legs, but Zappe has a natural feel for touch and trajectory with the mind/intangibles that will smooth his transition to the NFL. He projects favorably to Case Keenum and should be a longtime NFL backup and possible spot-starter.

Top college highlight

The season finale was certainly special. Zappe threw for 422 yards and six touchdowns and Western Kentucky’s offense put up a whopping 637 yards while rolling to a 59-38 victory in the Boca Raton Bowl. It wasn’t just that he broke the NCAA single-season passing touchdowns record that day. Zappe and his Hilltoppers managed to do it against an Appalachian State team that won 10 games and had a top-20 defense.

LEGEND 🐐

Bailey Zappe throws Touchdown Pass #61 this season and holds the ALL-TIME RECORD FOR TD THROWS IN A SEASON

congrats @baileyzappe04 !!! pic.twitter.com/2nbux3VArw

— The Transfer Portal CFB (@TPortalCFB) December 18, 2021

Coachspeak

“He really bought into being a full-time football player at Western Kentucky, to be honest,” Kittley said. “He was a grad student and all of his classes were online, so he and I were together all day, and he was a sponge. He’d roll in at 8 a.m. on Mondays while I’m up there game planning for the team. He’d sit in there with me and we’d watch teams together. I’d say, ‘Hey, what do you think about this play?’ and he’d tell me if he likes it or he doesn’t. So he really got to see a little bit more of the true coaching side and seeing the game from a play caller’s eyes over these past 12 months. He gained a better understanding of defenses and identifying fronts and coverages for pass or run checks. He was really good at Houston Baptist, but I think he really, really took off in his last year at Western Kentucky just with the amount of time that we got to spend together.”

Superlative

When you ask Kittley what makes Zappe special, the first word he uses is toughness. Zappe started 50 games at the college level and only sat out one game due to injury in five years. He never missed a start in his 41 games with Kittley. “And it’s not like he just sat back there and never got hit,” Kittley said. “He took some licks, especially early on there at Houston Baptist.” Zappe also suffered a high-ankle sprain early in the 2021 season but kept playing. His start streak is a credit to his decision-making and knack for getting the ball out fast and evading pressure. At Western Kentucky, Zappe took just 15 sacks on 730 dropbacks. That sack percentage (2.1%) rated lowest among all FBS QBs with more than 200 dropbacks, according to PFF.

Additional Reading

(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)