New York Jets quarterback Sam Darnold has quickly established himself as one of the most promising, young players in the league. It appears he has already done enough to earn Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich's stamp of approval.

Darnold is still trying to find his footing thus far in the 2018 NFL season. However, Reich is convinced that he is as legit as it gets, via SNY :

“I haven't evaluated Sam's athleticism compared to someone like Carson or Andrew [Luck], but you see he's making good plays with his feet — now that honestly surprised me a little bit,” Reich said. “I didn't know he was as good of an athlete, running the ball as well.”

Reich further added that Darnold “just looks like the real deal” and that “just looks like he belongs.”

Reich's praise certainly carries a lot of weight. He was a part of the draft process that traded up to select quarterback Carson Wentz with the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Needless to say, the acquisition worked out quite well for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Much like Wentz, Darnold was one of the most highly-touted quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft. It was well-established that he was arguably the most talented passer in his class, however, little was said about his mobility. It appears the rookie's athleticism has taken Reich by surprise.

Sam Darnold is coming off perhaps his best performance yet. He threw for 198 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception en route to a 34-16 win against a formidable Denver Broncos defense. Expect Frank Reich to do what he can to limit Darnold's mobility in and out of the pocket.