Michigan State Football: PFF grades Noah Kim highly after CMU win

With the release of PFF’s advanced grades, Michigan State football QB1 Noah Kim’s Friday night debut against CMU looks even better.

On Monday, Al Karsten on X broke down some of Noah Kim’s advanced PFF numbers from the Michigan State football season-opening victory. Based on these numbers and metrics, the junior looks quite impressive.

Michigan State has had a very fickle relationship with PFF, as I recall Hassan Haskins and Blake Corum grading out over Kenneth Walker III multiple times during the 2021 season. Since the numbers are going our way currently, I will elect to be complimentary of them… this time. 

To begin, Kim graded out as the 17th best quarterback in the country with an 85.6 offensive grade. Regardless of tonight’s Clemson-Duke matchup, he will end week one among the top 20 quarterbacks in the country.

Among the Big Ten quarterbacks, Kim’s 85.6 ranks him fourth. 

MSU QB Noah Kim recorded an 85.6 PFF Offensive Grade in Week 1 which was 17th Best QB Grade in the Country (4th B1G)

Kim’s five Big Time Throws were 2nd most in NCAAF (1st Power-5)

His aDot of 12.2 was 23rd and he was one of only 15 QBs with at least 8 QB Pressures but 0 Sacks

— Al Karsten (@bigalfredosauce) September 4, 2023

On top of this, Kim’s five “big time throws” ranked him second in the country. For those curious as to what a big time throw (BTT) is, it’s a “pass with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window.”

The best example of an excellent BTT would be Kim’s two-minute drill. In a span of a few plays, Kim delivered two outstanding throws into tight windows. All Jaron Glover had to do was cradle the ball in. Those five BTTs rank him at the top of the country, ahead or tied with some early Heisman favorites and Michigan State rivals (Shedeur Sanders, Jordan Travis, J.J. McCarthy, to name a few). On top of this, I do not believe the BTTs would account for Maliq Carr’s trick play drop. Another missed potential BTT would be on Montorie Foster not coming down with the Hail Mary that clanked off of his facemask. 

Kim’s aDot (average depth-of-target) at 12.2 ranks him 23rd in the country. This all confirms our eye test on Friday night, where Kim excelled in the vertical game. Throughout the night, he could take drop-offs and the vertical game, but the mid-level “timing routes” that broke outside plagued the new (and improved) No. 10.

Regardless, being top 25 in the country week one is certainly a sign of improved quarterback play compared to last year.

The final number to break down from Karsten is Kim’s escapability. Kim was one of 15 quarterbacks to be pressured eight times and escaped without being sacked once. This statistic, while great, gives me mixed feelings. On one hand, the ability to flush out of the pocket and avoid the momentum killer of a sack cannot be understated. Kim’s mobility was tested and he passed with flying colors. He diagnosed and reacted excellently.

On the other, the Michigan State offensive line let up eight pressures to their starting quarterback against Central Michigan. As I mentioned in my takeaways, Central Michigan finished 4-8 last year. MSU allowing eight pressures is not great, to say the least. My only problem is that he should not have had this test in Week 1 of the season. To make things worse, Katin Houser got to play the final series and was immediately sacked on his first dropback of this season. 

In Week 1 of the year, Kim passed with flying colors. Personally, I think the best is yet to come for our starting quarterback. He returns to action Saturday against the Richmond Spiders.