Andrew Luck: Stanford Star Will Thrive Under NFL Pressure

It is a forgone conclusion that Stanford QB Andrew Luck will be selected No. 1 by the complete rebuilding project that is the Indianapolis Colts at the NFL draft on Thursday. 

Along with Peyton Manning, the Colts have rid themselves of notables such as Gary Brackett, Joseph Addai, Melvin Bullet and Dallas Clark in the offseason.

On the surface, that's not very good news for Andrew Luck, as almost all of the responsibility will be on him to turn this team that went 2-14 last season around. On top of that, he also has to deal with an enormous amount of pressure due to replacing one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history.

But, Luck can not only handle that pressure, he will thrive with it.

Luck is more than familiar with how to turn a program around. Just look at Stanford football before he started in 2009. The Cardinal had not had a winning season since 2001 and hadn't won a bowl game since 1996. 

With Luck, the Cardinal had winning seasons in all three years and won a bowl game (a BCS bowl game at that).  

Also, when the pressure was really heaped on him to deliver in his senior season, with the lofty expectations for the team and his own performance, he led the Cardinal to to a tie atop the Pac-12 North.

As for the concerns about him having to replace Manning, look, I get it. Besides having a deep connection with the fans, which was evidenced in his goodbye press conference with Jim Irsay, Manning led the Colts to 10 consecutive 10-win seasons and a Super Bowl title and played the quarterback position almost as flawlessly as one can. 

That would be extremely difficult for any quarterback, but Luck will be unfazed.

It's not as if Colts fans are going to boo Luck if the team starts out slow in 2012. Nobody, even the biggest Colts fans, could make a legitimate case for the Colts to immediately perform as they did under Manning and make the playoffs next season.

The Colts won two games in 2011, and as mentioned before, they've gutted their roster.

Luck should be able to win over Colts fans quickly, as he likely will help exceed the two-or-three-win expectations the Colts have this year. 

Luck has the responsibility of leading a franchise from day one, which could be overwhelming for many, but Luck is not like most NFL prospects. Often times, because the quarterback position is so valued, fans and scouts alike make quarterback prospects better than they are.

We are not doing this with Luck. He is truly the best player in this draft and has been regarded as the best quarterback prospect since John Elway by some of the best scouts in the business.

Being compared to Elway and Manning definitely increases pressure, but those comparisons are just, not forced.

Luck won't have the typical rookie adjustment to the complications of the NFL game, as he already is elite in pre-snap adjustments and audibles.

And he won't be fazed by late-game situations in the NFL either, as he has proven to be excellent in the clutch. Remember when he led the Cardinal down the field for a touchdown after throwing that potentially game-ending interception against USC in a game with huge implications?

Along with his talent, Luck is cool, calm and collected. The pressures of simply being a young QB, the No. 1 pick and also replacing Manning won't be enough to stop him from having a successful beginning in the NFL.