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It remains to be seen whether Dwayne Haskins will develop into a quality starting quarterback at the next level. Given how he plans to hone his craft and lead his teammates, though, it certainly seems like mindset won't be what holds the Ohio State product back from reaching greatness.
During an appearance on the RapSheet and Friends Podcast, Haskins alluded to his admiration for the work ethic and leadership style of Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, whose legendary competitiveness he hopes to emulate in the NFL.
Article Continues Below“He's definitely a guy that brings a lot to the table as far as how he trains, how he prepares and what he expects out of his teammates. Very, very demanding,” he said of Kobe Bryant, per Adam Maya of NFL.com. “… And I want to be able to have that other tool, being able to have that edge that Kobe had. Of course, I play like that, but I'd be able to lead like that. That's why I studied Kobe.”
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and 18-time All-Star, retired in 2016 as the league's third all-time leading scorer. He's since opened the Mamba Sports Academy, a training center for elite young athletes at which Haskins has spent some time during the pre-draft process.
A likely first-round pick who was once in consideration for the No. 1 overall selection, Dwayne Haskins threw for 50 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and 4,831 yards while completing a whopping 70 percent of his passes as a first-year starter in 2018. The redshirt sophomore was at his best when it mattered most, too, throwing for a combined 14 touchdowns and one interception over the Buckeyes’ last three games, including a key matchup against fourth-ranked and longtime rival Michigan in which he tossed six touchdowns and zero picks.
